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DCI Matilda Darke #5
The Murder House
It’s the most disturbing crime scene DCI Matilda Darke has ever seen…
The morning after a wedding reception at a beautiful suburban home in Sheffield, the bride’s entire family are stabbed to death – in a frenzied attack more violent than anything DCI Matilda Darke could have imagined.
Forensics point to a burglar on the run across the country. But cracks are starting to appear in Matilda’s team, someone is playing games with the evidence – and the killer might be closer to home than they thought…
The morning after a wedding reception at a beautiful suburban home in Sheffield, the bride’s entire family are stabbed to death – in a frenzied attack more violent than anything DCI Matilda Darke could have imagined.
Forensics point to a burglar on the run across the country. But cracks are starting to appear in Matilda’s team, someone is playing games with the evidence – and the killer might be closer to home than they thought…
465 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 31, 2020
426 people are currently reading
1003 people want to read
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January 23, 2020
Sheffield, in the North of England is the location for the most horrific attack on a well liked and respected family, the day after their daughter’s wedding. DCI Matilda Darke and her team have never witnessed a crime scene as bad as this one. The bride’s mother, father, and brother are all dead, slaughtered in what can only be described as a crazed, and frenzied attack. Initial investigations can find no reason for this attack, all three deceased were doctors, pillars of the community, who regularly raised funds for various charities - the perfect family! Well, of course no one is perfect, but DCI Darke will certainly have her work cut out getting to the bottom of this one.
It was clear right from the start that I would find it difficult to put this one down. The plot was extremely clever, with expert use of misdirection, and I certainly never guessed who had carried out this horrific crime. The characters were terrific, each playing their part to perfection, and we were given a great insight into their personal lives, which gave a warm feeling of familiarity. The intrepid investigators are eventually rewarded for their tireless work, with a clue that was actually staring them right in the face all along, and which will blindside even the most jaded of crime readers. Unmissable!
* Thank you to Netgalley and One More Chapter for my ARC, in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
It was clear right from the start that I would find it difficult to put this one down. The plot was extremely clever, with expert use of misdirection, and I certainly never guessed who had carried out this horrific crime. The characters were terrific, each playing their part to perfection, and we were given a great insight into their personal lives, which gave a warm feeling of familiarity. The intrepid investigators are eventually rewarded for their tireless work, with a clue that was actually staring them right in the face all along, and which will blindside even the most jaded of crime readers. Unmissable!
* Thank you to Netgalley and One More Chapter for my ARC, in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
December 2, 2019
We return to Sheffield and this fantastic series featuring DCI Matilda Darke, now running the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team (HMET), in a shocking addition where the team face their worst case ever, one that is to give them nightmares for life. A guest returns the morning after a wedding reception to look for her missing shoe, only to discover a bloodbath, complete carnage, the bride's entire family has been murdered in a frenzied stabbing, and a traumatised young girl, Rachel, has been tied to a chair. It is the kind of scene that nobody should have to see unless they absolutely have to. The victims are the eminently respectable Clive and Serena Mercer, an anaesthetist and neurologist, and their junior doctor son, Jeremy. The Mercers are the perfect family, volunteering, fundraising and contributing to various charities and local causes, such as tackling homelessness. Who would want to wipe them out in such a brutal and savage way?
As Matilda and DC Rory Fleming take in the crime scene, there are obvious leads and evidence that make them uneasy. It appears that this will be a slam dunk case, but the forensics do not match the personal hatred, malevolence, and strong emotions that have driven the perpetrator to kill with such over the top violence. For Matilda, her gut reaction is that it seems as if someone is being framed, and the murderer is likely to be much closer to the Mercer family. So HMET dig into all the family members, including Leah and Oliver, the bride and bridegroom on their honeymoon in Paris, it soon emerges that this is not the perfect family, there are secrets and lies, troubled marriages and more. There is a frightened burglar on the loose and with her hands full, Matilda hands over the long running investigation into the abduction of the young boy, Carl, and his despairing mother, Sally Meaghan, to former DI Pat Campbell, now retired, to handle. Matilda risks her entire career and reputation on not believing the forensics, but going it alone is to put her into deadly danger.
One of the best things about this excellent series by Michael Wood is the strong focus on the team, their personal lives and relationships. Matilda is trying to keep a close eye on her team, particularly given the traumatic nature of the case, and her chief concerns are Rory and DC Scott Andrews. Matilda herself has moved house and all the memories of the loss of her beloved husband, James, but the suicide of DI Ben Hales in the house made her old home unbearable and impossible to live in. As the stress of the case mounts, she relies on best friend, Adele Kean, the pathologist to keep her sane. This is a brilliant addition to the series, intense, suspenseful and just unputdownable, but I do recommend starting at the beginning. I hope the author is busy writing the next one in the series, because I am so looking forward to it! Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
As Matilda and DC Rory Fleming take in the crime scene, there are obvious leads and evidence that make them uneasy. It appears that this will be a slam dunk case, but the forensics do not match the personal hatred, malevolence, and strong emotions that have driven the perpetrator to kill with such over the top violence. For Matilda, her gut reaction is that it seems as if someone is being framed, and the murderer is likely to be much closer to the Mercer family. So HMET dig into all the family members, including Leah and Oliver, the bride and bridegroom on their honeymoon in Paris, it soon emerges that this is not the perfect family, there are secrets and lies, troubled marriages and more. There is a frightened burglar on the loose and with her hands full, Matilda hands over the long running investigation into the abduction of the young boy, Carl, and his despairing mother, Sally Meaghan, to former DI Pat Campbell, now retired, to handle. Matilda risks her entire career and reputation on not believing the forensics, but going it alone is to put her into deadly danger.
One of the best things about this excellent series by Michael Wood is the strong focus on the team, their personal lives and relationships. Matilda is trying to keep a close eye on her team, particularly given the traumatic nature of the case, and her chief concerns are Rory and DC Scott Andrews. Matilda herself has moved house and all the memories of the loss of her beloved husband, James, but the suicide of DI Ben Hales in the house made her old home unbearable and impossible to live in. As the stress of the case mounts, she relies on best friend, Adele Kean, the pathologist to keep her sane. This is a brilliant addition to the series, intense, suspenseful and just unputdownable, but I do recommend starting at the beginning. I hope the author is busy writing the next one in the series, because I am so looking forward to it! Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
December 7, 2019
DCI Matilda Darke and her team are back again as they investigate a triple murder that took place the evening following a wedding. Who would want to kill members of this family? The husband and wife are both doctors who make contributions to various charities, their adult son is a doctor in town for his sister's wedding. The killings are brutal and in fact, are the most brutal killings that Matilda and her team have ever seen. This frenzied attack left one survivor, a young girl found tied to her chair. Why was this family targeted? Who has a motive? Why kill them the evening of their daughter's wedding?
As forensics gather evidence, the team begins to narrow their search and zone in on a suspect. But DCI Matilda Darke begins to suspect things are not as cut and dry as they seem. Is there more at play? What dark secrets will emerge during this investigation? How will the team react?
This is the fifth book in the series and would work as a stand-alone, however, there will be a lot of backstories missed and it has been rewarding seeing the character development over the series. Michael Wood has crafted an intelligent series that blends the investigator's lives with their detective work. Characters change and evolve over the course of this series. Their relationships, their friendships, their support systems, and their work colleagues are all interesting and riveting. I wanted to cheer for a certain character who shared a secret and was able to find acceptance in the process. I also enjoyed how the Author showed the detectives as human beings who can still be affected by violent crime scenes and how they have each other's backs.
Well written, captivating, and as the book progressed, became a real page-turner. If you haven't read this series, what are you waiting for? Do yourself a favor and start at the beginning. Michael Wood does not disappoint!
Thank you to One More Chapter and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
As forensics gather evidence, the team begins to narrow their search and zone in on a suspect. But DCI Matilda Darke begins to suspect things are not as cut and dry as they seem. Is there more at play? What dark secrets will emerge during this investigation? How will the team react?
This is the fifth book in the series and would work as a stand-alone, however, there will be a lot of backstories missed and it has been rewarding seeing the character development over the series. Michael Wood has crafted an intelligent series that blends the investigator's lives with their detective work. Characters change and evolve over the course of this series. Their relationships, their friendships, their support systems, and their work colleagues are all interesting and riveting. I wanted to cheer for a certain character who shared a secret and was able to find acceptance in the process. I also enjoyed how the Author showed the detectives as human beings who can still be affected by violent crime scenes and how they have each other's backs.
Well written, captivating, and as the book progressed, became a real page-turner. If you haven't read this series, what are you waiting for? Do yourself a favor and start at the beginning. Michael Wood does not disappoint!
Thank you to One More Chapter and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 15, 2020
4 - 5 stars
Location - Sheffield. The night after a wedding. Three gruesome murders, sheer carnage, a murder house, one of the most frenzied and gruesome slayings that the HMET (Homicide and Major Enquiry Team) of DCI Mathilda Darke have ever seen. Even hardened police officers are green around the gills, queasy and overcome with the horrific sight that greets them. A family that seems perfect, father Clive, mother Serena and son Jeremy are slain leaving the granddaughter Rachel alive and the daughter Leah on honeymoon, the only ones remaining alive. However, all is not what it seems. The forensics are ‘off’, the suspect whilst he is a serial offender, it’s ‘small stuff’ not major crime, he’s not a killer. What is going on?? Who has wanted this perfect family dead??? This is frenzied and personal. The unfolding drama is an unputdownable police procedural of very good quality.
One of the things I like the most about this book is the team serving under DCI Mathilda Darke. When an author has produced a successful series they know and understand their characters and I feel this very strongly here. They feel real, believable, they aren’t perfect but who amongst us is, they are carrying baggage but they are so interesting, hardworking, committed and very likeable. I like the dual enquiry with the continuing search to find missing young boy Carl Meagan and I really like the Epilogue. Talk about keep you dangling!! The plotting is good, there is a bit of humour to help dispel the darkness, there are moments of tension, twists and suspense, some powerful scenes and some seriously messed up people. There is also deception, lies, anger, frustration, some oversights, some arrogance and sadness and loss. All the essential ingredients that you want to see in a crime novel. The story has an authentic feel and I like the way it conveys the financial pressure that forces are under (police stations open 9-5 and not at weekends, please tell the criminals to respect these hours) and the chiefs telling the Indians to solve crimes at warp speed. Also, please. please could you NOT take us on a chocolate tour of all that is available in the UK- I’m trying to resist!! DS Sian Mills drawer of treats must be huge!
The only negative that I have is that I am not entirely convinced about the way the story ended, it feels a bit over the top and ‘Hollywoodish’. That being said it is exciting and tense and so overall, it’s a very good read. Although I hadn’t read the previous four books I feel in no way disadvantaged. The only thing is I could kick myself for overlooking such a good author and this series. How did I manage that??? I have already downloaded book one so will catch up on the backstory of Mathilda Darke as I think she is a tremendous character and I want to get to know her better!! Highly recommended.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper-Collins UK, The One Chapter for the ARC.
Location - Sheffield. The night after a wedding. Three gruesome murders, sheer carnage, a murder house, one of the most frenzied and gruesome slayings that the HMET (Homicide and Major Enquiry Team) of DCI Mathilda Darke have ever seen. Even hardened police officers are green around the gills, queasy and overcome with the horrific sight that greets them. A family that seems perfect, father Clive, mother Serena and son Jeremy are slain leaving the granddaughter Rachel alive and the daughter Leah on honeymoon, the only ones remaining alive. However, all is not what it seems. The forensics are ‘off’, the suspect whilst he is a serial offender, it’s ‘small stuff’ not major crime, he’s not a killer. What is going on?? Who has wanted this perfect family dead??? This is frenzied and personal. The unfolding drama is an unputdownable police procedural of very good quality.
One of the things I like the most about this book is the team serving under DCI Mathilda Darke. When an author has produced a successful series they know and understand their characters and I feel this very strongly here. They feel real, believable, they aren’t perfect but who amongst us is, they are carrying baggage but they are so interesting, hardworking, committed and very likeable. I like the dual enquiry with the continuing search to find missing young boy Carl Meagan and I really like the Epilogue. Talk about keep you dangling!! The plotting is good, there is a bit of humour to help dispel the darkness, there are moments of tension, twists and suspense, some powerful scenes and some seriously messed up people. There is also deception, lies, anger, frustration, some oversights, some arrogance and sadness and loss. All the essential ingredients that you want to see in a crime novel. The story has an authentic feel and I like the way it conveys the financial pressure that forces are under (police stations open 9-5 and not at weekends, please tell the criminals to respect these hours) and the chiefs telling the Indians to solve crimes at warp speed. Also, please. please could you NOT take us on a chocolate tour of all that is available in the UK- I’m trying to resist!! DS Sian Mills drawer of treats must be huge!
The only negative that I have is that I am not entirely convinced about the way the story ended, it feels a bit over the top and ‘Hollywoodish’. That being said it is exciting and tense and so overall, it’s a very good read. Although I hadn’t read the previous four books I feel in no way disadvantaged. The only thing is I could kick myself for overlooking such a good author and this series. How did I manage that??? I have already downloaded book one so will catch up on the backstory of Mathilda Darke as I think she is a tremendous character and I want to get to know her better!! Highly recommended.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper-Collins UK, The One Chapter for the ARC.
February 8, 2020
EXCERPT: How could I have been so blind?
'I don't believe this. I've known exactly who the killer is from day one. In fact, if we'd been doing our jobs properly in the first place, these murders could have been prevented.'
ABOUT THIS BOOK: It’s the most disturbing crime scene DCI Matilda Darke has ever seen…
The morning after a wedding reception at a beautiful suburban home in Sheffield, the bride’s entire family are stabbed to death – in a frenzied attack more violent than anything DCI Matilda Darke could have imagined.
Forensics point to a burglar on the run across the country. But cracks are starting to appear in Matilda’s team, someone is playing games with the evidence – and the killer might be closer to home than they thought…
MY THOUGHTS: I like DCI Mathilda Darke. I like the way she stands up to her superiors, putting her need to solve cases above their budgets. She is not afraid to stand up for what she believes in, and for the people she believes in. She has her own demons, but seems to be bringing them under control as she adjusts to living without her late husband, James. She has good friends, and a mostly supportive team.
I particularly like Sian, who refuses to be a cliche detective, hiding things from her husband and turning to drink. Instead she and her husband support each other, confide in one another and turn to each other for comfort.
There is a new team member, a TDC brought in as a stopgap measure following the death of another team member. I hope Michael Wood decides to keep him on and develop his character.
The case of the murdered family is an intriguing one. Who would want to slay this perfect family? And why? Why? Why? The plot is clever and enjoyable. Suspects are thin on the ground. I would make a lousy detective as I suspected all the wrong people, no doubt just as Mr Wood intended.
Running alongside this frustrating investigation is the development of the team's private lives. Michael Wood has struck a good balance between the characters professional and private lives, making me want to read more of this series.
This is the fifth book in a series of which I have read and enjoyed three. Strongly recommended.
😊😊😊😊
#TheMurderHouse #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: Before he became an author, Michael Wood used to serve as a journalist and a proofreader. Wood resides in Sheffield, Yorkshire. For Unknown Reasons was Michael Wood’s debut novel, which was published in the year 2015.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to One More Chapter via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Murder House by Michael Wood for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
'I don't believe this. I've known exactly who the killer is from day one. In fact, if we'd been doing our jobs properly in the first place, these murders could have been prevented.'
ABOUT THIS BOOK: It’s the most disturbing crime scene DCI Matilda Darke has ever seen…
The morning after a wedding reception at a beautiful suburban home in Sheffield, the bride’s entire family are stabbed to death – in a frenzied attack more violent than anything DCI Matilda Darke could have imagined.
Forensics point to a burglar on the run across the country. But cracks are starting to appear in Matilda’s team, someone is playing games with the evidence – and the killer might be closer to home than they thought…
MY THOUGHTS: I like DCI Mathilda Darke. I like the way she stands up to her superiors, putting her need to solve cases above their budgets. She is not afraid to stand up for what she believes in, and for the people she believes in. She has her own demons, but seems to be bringing them under control as she adjusts to living without her late husband, James. She has good friends, and a mostly supportive team.
I particularly like Sian, who refuses to be a cliche detective, hiding things from her husband and turning to drink. Instead she and her husband support each other, confide in one another and turn to each other for comfort.
There is a new team member, a TDC brought in as a stopgap measure following the death of another team member. I hope Michael Wood decides to keep him on and develop his character.
The case of the murdered family is an intriguing one. Who would want to slay this perfect family? And why? Why? Why? The plot is clever and enjoyable. Suspects are thin on the ground. I would make a lousy detective as I suspected all the wrong people, no doubt just as Mr Wood intended.
Running alongside this frustrating investigation is the development of the team's private lives. Michael Wood has struck a good balance between the characters professional and private lives, making me want to read more of this series.
This is the fifth book in a series of which I have read and enjoyed three. Strongly recommended.
😊😊😊😊
#TheMurderHouse #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: Before he became an author, Michael Wood used to serve as a journalist and a proofreader. Wood resides in Sheffield, Yorkshire. For Unknown Reasons was Michael Wood’s debut novel, which was published in the year 2015.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to One More Chapter via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Murder House by Michael Wood for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
November 23, 2019
This is the 5th book in the DCI Matilda Darke series by author Michael. This is my first experience of this authors work and obviously my introduction to this series. Straight away I was hooked, really gritty characters and a well thought out plot that is paced exceptionally well. Half way through the book I had already decided I was going to read the other books in the series and swiftly ordered all 5 books.
Following a wedding reception held in a Sheffield house, the bride's family are brutally murdered in a frenzied attack. Many of the officers agree that this is the worst crime scene they have ever witnessed but somehow DCI Matilda Darke needs to uncover what took place as well as keeping her team together.
The fact that I have started the series on book 5 didn't spoil my enjoyment of the novel but did make me want to catch up with the earlier books in the series. I was very impressed with thee characters and feel that I will grow to like them more and more as I read.
I would like to thank both Net Galley and One more chapter for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Following a wedding reception held in a Sheffield house, the bride's family are brutally murdered in a frenzied attack. Many of the officers agree that this is the worst crime scene they have ever witnessed but somehow DCI Matilda Darke needs to uncover what took place as well as keeping her team together.
The fact that I have started the series on book 5 didn't spoil my enjoyment of the novel but did make me want to catch up with the earlier books in the series. I was very impressed with thee characters and feel that I will grow to like them more and more as I read.
I would like to thank both Net Galley and One more chapter for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
June 15, 2022
DCI Darke walks into a Suburban Home witnessing the most horrific crime scene she has ever seen. The morning after her wedding reception the Bride's entire family has been brutally stabbed while she is away on her honeymoon. Her young niece is the sole survivor.
This book was very brutal. The crime scene played emotionally on the team. Secrets come out and some just cant see their futures in the Force anymore.
Its so great to see how much Matilda has grown. She becomes the solid rock her team desperately needs. Once again those last few sentences shook me!
This book was very brutal. The crime scene played emotionally on the team. Secrets come out and some just cant see their futures in the Force anymore.
Its so great to see how much Matilda has grown. She becomes the solid rock her team desperately needs. Once again those last few sentences shook me!
September 23, 2020
After very recently reviewing an ARC of the next book in this series, Stolen Children, I realised I had missed a book. So I quickly grabbed this one from Amazon to rectify the situation. Matilda and her team are called to a most horrific murder scene. At a gracious suburban home, which had hosted a wedding the day before, three people have been brutally butchered. Clive and Serena Mercer are both lying in pools of blood. Their son Jeremy lies dead on the stairs. And Jeremy’s seven year old daughter, Rachel, has been tied to a chair in her room. She is severely traumatised. The Mercer’s daughter, Leah, who was married to Oliver the day before, is in Paris on her honeymoon but the couple returns immediately on hearing the news of the slaughter.
DCI Matilda Darke believes the attack was personal due to the extreme level of violence displayed against the two older victims. She thinks Jeremy is collateral damage. So she tasks her team with drilling down into the lives of the Mercers. She believes that when they find the motive they will find the killer. But everyone the speak to talks about the Mercers as the ‘perfect couple’. This isn’t going to be so easy but, as usual, not everything is as it seems.
Finally, forensics can place another person at the scene. But for one thing it just doesn’t feel right for Matilda and, for another, that person has disappeared. Escaped from police custody to be precise. There are also some personal dilemmas being faced. Rory is unsure about staying in the police service. Scott is struggling to come out as gay and Matilda is still very lonely after her husband died a few years ago. The ending of this story is quite propulsive so strap on your seat belt. If you haven’t started this series yet - why not?
DCI Matilda Darke believes the attack was personal due to the extreme level of violence displayed against the two older victims. She thinks Jeremy is collateral damage. So she tasks her team with drilling down into the lives of the Mercers. She believes that when they find the motive they will find the killer. But everyone the speak to talks about the Mercers as the ‘perfect couple’. This isn’t going to be so easy but, as usual, not everything is as it seems.
Finally, forensics can place another person at the scene. But for one thing it just doesn’t feel right for Matilda and, for another, that person has disappeared. Escaped from police custody to be precise. There are also some personal dilemmas being faced. Rory is unsure about staying in the police service. Scott is struggling to come out as gay and Matilda is still very lonely after her husband died a few years ago. The ending of this story is quite propulsive so strap on your seat belt. If you haven’t started this series yet - why not?
September 12, 2020
Wow cant get enough of this series another fantastic storyline from this author,starts of a brutal murders of a family DCI Matilda Drake and her team at the scene never seen such gruesome murders.the family have no enemies,there's another of Matildas case which wasn't solved a child disappears the parents receives phone calls is the child alive or is he dead.she asks pat a retired policewoman for help.really enjoyed this read.highly recommend.
January 31, 2020
The Murder House is the fifth instalment in the DCI Matilda Darke series based in and around Sheffield, UK, and is hands down the most addictive and riveting of the series so far and possibly the most accomplished of his writing career. If this doesn't become a bestseller it'll be a complete injustice.
Newly-married couple Leah and Oliver Ridgeway leave Leah’s parents’ home on their honeymoon. However, the very next day an attendee at the wedding arrives at the house to collect some personal items and tragically finds the three members of the Mercer family brutally slain. The horrific murders of Serena and Clive Mercer and son, Jeremy, are some of the most horrendous and grisly the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team have ever seen. It is making even the most seasoned investigators queasy with blood-spattered everywhere, one victim with mutilated facial features and another near decapitated. It is clear that this was personal by the frenzied method of attack but police are struggling to find those who may have a motive to kill as the family was seemingly well-liked in the community and the forensic evidence brings more questions than answers.
From the word go this is an unputdownable page-turner and a police procedural of the highest quality in terms of both content and entertainment. It’s completely absorbing and you will find yourself caught up in the drama of it all pretty swiftly. It shifts at a pacey stride and features the perspectives of different detectives as well as the killer. It is so easy to put trust in Mr Woods knowing full well he always delivers, and deliver he did! I couldn't get the pages to fly by fast enough as I delved deep into the mystery with DCI Darke and hung on Woods’s every word. There was masterful and plentiful use of red herrings and misdirection. Overall, this is an action-packed, engrossing and thoroughly exciting procedural and one I know both new and long-time fans will enjoy getting their teeth into. Highly recommended. Many thanks to One More Chapter for an ARC.
Newly-married couple Leah and Oliver Ridgeway leave Leah’s parents’ home on their honeymoon. However, the very next day an attendee at the wedding arrives at the house to collect some personal items and tragically finds the three members of the Mercer family brutally slain. The horrific murders of Serena and Clive Mercer and son, Jeremy, are some of the most horrendous and grisly the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team have ever seen. It is making even the most seasoned investigators queasy with blood-spattered everywhere, one victim with mutilated facial features and another near decapitated. It is clear that this was personal by the frenzied method of attack but police are struggling to find those who may have a motive to kill as the family was seemingly well-liked in the community and the forensic evidence brings more questions than answers.
From the word go this is an unputdownable page-turner and a police procedural of the highest quality in terms of both content and entertainment. It’s completely absorbing and you will find yourself caught up in the drama of it all pretty swiftly. It shifts at a pacey stride and features the perspectives of different detectives as well as the killer. It is so easy to put trust in Mr Woods knowing full well he always delivers, and deliver he did! I couldn't get the pages to fly by fast enough as I delved deep into the mystery with DCI Darke and hung on Woods’s every word. There was masterful and plentiful use of red herrings and misdirection. Overall, this is an action-packed, engrossing and thoroughly exciting procedural and one I know both new and long-time fans will enjoy getting their teeth into. Highly recommended. Many thanks to One More Chapter for an ARC.
January 31, 2020
Following a wedding and reception, after the bride and groom leave for their honeymoon, when mom and dad and brother of the bride, and the brother's daughter are left with all the cleanup, an intruder appears. They are all savagely murdered, except for the young girl who was only tied to a chair.
DCI Matilda Darke and her team have never seen such a horrendous crime scene. There are hundreds of fingerprints and blood is splatted everywhere. The girl did not see the attacker's face.
By all accounts, this was a perfect family .. so who would want them all dead and in such a shockingly grisly way?
This is well written, with a plot that is nicely paced, with unforgettable characters. The action is non-stop and the suspense is palpable.
I have not read any of the previous books in this series, however, this one was easily read as a stand alone .... taking my own usual recommendation in starting at the beginning. I would really like to know more about these characters, especially Darke.
My only complaint would be that the young girl who is the nice of the bride was several times referred to as her sister. This was an easy enough mistake that should have been found quite easily. Dropped my rating by one star.
Many thanks to the author / One More Chapter / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
DCI Matilda Darke and her team have never seen such a horrendous crime scene. There are hundreds of fingerprints and blood is splatted everywhere. The girl did not see the attacker's face.
By all accounts, this was a perfect family .. so who would want them all dead and in such a shockingly grisly way?
This is well written, with a plot that is nicely paced, with unforgettable characters. The action is non-stop and the suspense is palpable.
I have not read any of the previous books in this series, however, this one was easily read as a stand alone .... taking my own usual recommendation in starting at the beginning. I would really like to know more about these characters, especially Darke.
My only complaint would be that the young girl who is the nice of the bride was several times referred to as her sister. This was an easy enough mistake that should have been found quite easily. Dropped my rating by one star.
Many thanks to the author / One More Chapter / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
February 1, 2020
DCI Matilda Darke #5
.After a wedding reception, a family were killed in a horrendous way. The only survivor was a young girl. Matilda Darke and her team are investigating. Forensics think it was a burglary that's gone wrong, but Matilda is not qjite so sure.
There is a backstory running through the book that I wasn't aware off before reading the book. It's a continuation from a previous book. This is the reason I like to read books I order when they are part of a series. However, I did not that it was when I requested it. The story is set in Sheffield. The plot is complex and multi layered. It's dark with lots of twists. This was a great police procedural to read. I will need to catch up on the other books in this series. This is a suspense filled read.
I would like to thank NetGalley, One More Chapter and the author Michael Wood for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
.After a wedding reception, a family were killed in a horrendous way. The only survivor was a young girl. Matilda Darke and her team are investigating. Forensics think it was a burglary that's gone wrong, but Matilda is not qjite so sure.
There is a backstory running through the book that I wasn't aware off before reading the book. It's a continuation from a previous book. This is the reason I like to read books I order when they are part of a series. However, I did not that it was when I requested it. The story is set in Sheffield. The plot is complex and multi layered. It's dark with lots of twists. This was a great police procedural to read. I will need to catch up on the other books in this series. This is a suspense filled read.
I would like to thank NetGalley, One More Chapter and the author Michael Wood for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 28, 2019
Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow!
The 5th book in the DCI Matilda Darke series and another belter of a book!
This is a story that starts off strong and ups the anti at every given opportunity. I couldn’t devour it quickly enough, even though I thought I had it all worked out. Of course, I was so far off the mark. Not once did I have an inkling at who the real killer was. That little revelation nearly knocked me off my seat.
It felt good to get back in the driving seat with Matilda and her team. There is something comforting and reassuring about these characters that add that little bit extra to a compulsive storyline that any crime fan will struggling to put down.
As Matilda and her team get further into the case, the pacing went from steady to frenzied within no time. I felt like I was holding on for dear life when they start putting all the pieces together. It sure did make for some explosive reading in parts when the truth becomes crystal clear.
The Murder House is one nail biter of a read that sucked me straight in, not letting me up for air until I’d finished it. I love the author’s writing style and each book in this series is as gripping and entertaining as the last. Got to be one of my top crime series that delivers every time.
My thanks to NetGalley and One More Chapter for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
The 5th book in the DCI Matilda Darke series and another belter of a book!
This is a story that starts off strong and ups the anti at every given opportunity. I couldn’t devour it quickly enough, even though I thought I had it all worked out. Of course, I was so far off the mark. Not once did I have an inkling at who the real killer was. That little revelation nearly knocked me off my seat.
It felt good to get back in the driving seat with Matilda and her team. There is something comforting and reassuring about these characters that add that little bit extra to a compulsive storyline that any crime fan will struggling to put down.
As Matilda and her team get further into the case, the pacing went from steady to frenzied within no time. I felt like I was holding on for dear life when they start putting all the pieces together. It sure did make for some explosive reading in parts when the truth becomes crystal clear.
The Murder House is one nail biter of a read that sucked me straight in, not letting me up for air until I’d finished it. I love the author’s writing style and each book in this series is as gripping and entertaining as the last. Got to be one of my top crime series that delivers every time.
My thanks to NetGalley and One More Chapter for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
August 12, 2022
I actually have managed to read this series in order. I really like the character of Matildia Drake and how she sorts out the evidence she has to work with to solve the crime. Her team is well oiled and work together without the feuding and fighting that is found in many books of this genre. This one is a bit gorier than the first four, so, if this bothers you, you may want to skip it...if not...it's a great mystery and a really good read. I could see some significant character growth since the first book, especially with DCI Drake. This case wasn't by any means "a walk in the park". An entire family, except one small child had been brutely murdered. The investigating team isn't perfect. They made mistakes in their logic details of the investigation as well as in some personal ones. Their mistakes are really what keeps you reading. The author gives you some clues as to "who-done-it" fairly early on, but he leaves you to try to sort out the "why". For a while, you, the reader, are the only one privileged to that information. This is a true mystery in every sense of the word. It's definitely a book that you will want to continue to read until the very last page. The series can be read out of order but book 1 will get you better acquainted with Matilda and her team.
January 30, 2020
I received a copy of this title via NetGalley. It does not impact my review.
What I Liked:
-This is the fifth book in a series, but I haven’t read the preceding books. While there were lots of references to events from previous installments, I never felt lost with the characters and the main mystery worked as a standalone.
-I enjoyed the dynamic of the investigating team. There was some fun banter and I liked how close all of them were.
-Though it did take me awhile to get into the story, it did eventually pick up for me and it kept my attention.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
-Maybe I have read far too many graphic crime novels, but I really expected a lot more from the murder. The characters say over and over again how this is the worst crime scene they’ve ever seen and how horrific it was. But, it didn’t seem that bad to me? I feel like I’ve read far worse before and the characters just repeating again and again how bad the crime scene was made it seem much more like the author was trying to convince me it was bad, rather than writing it convincingly. It started me out on a bad foot with the story.
-I felt like the book was far too long. There were lots of side plots and red herrings and unneeded description. It could have been much shorter and still got all the main plot points and character development across.
-While I liked a lot of the characters, I didn’t care of Matilda. Few things she did made sense to me. I also didn’t like how she lied to her team about important things.
-I felt like there were really obvious clues in who the murderer was, which may be another reason the book felt so long to me. The big break in the case basically comes about by recognizing one of the detective’s incompetence, which also kind of annoyed me.
Overall:
Overall, The Murder House was ok, but didn’t really live up to my expectations. I expected a lot more from the premise and it left me a little disappointed. However, the character development was well done and I enjoyed reading about most of them. I probably won’t go back and read any of the other books in this series, but I’m sure fans of the series will probably enjoy this.
Overall Rating (out of 5): 3 Stars
What I Liked:
-This is the fifth book in a series, but I haven’t read the preceding books. While there were lots of references to events from previous installments, I never felt lost with the characters and the main mystery worked as a standalone.
-I enjoyed the dynamic of the investigating team. There was some fun banter and I liked how close all of them were.
-Though it did take me awhile to get into the story, it did eventually pick up for me and it kept my attention.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
-Maybe I have read far too many graphic crime novels, but I really expected a lot more from the murder. The characters say over and over again how this is the worst crime scene they’ve ever seen and how horrific it was. But, it didn’t seem that bad to me? I feel like I’ve read far worse before and the characters just repeating again and again how bad the crime scene was made it seem much more like the author was trying to convince me it was bad, rather than writing it convincingly. It started me out on a bad foot with the story.
-I felt like the book was far too long. There were lots of side plots and red herrings and unneeded description. It could have been much shorter and still got all the main plot points and character development across.
-While I liked a lot of the characters, I didn’t care of Matilda. Few things she did made sense to me. I also didn’t like how she lied to her team about important things.
-I felt like there were really obvious clues in who the murderer was, which may be another reason the book felt so long to me. The big break in the case basically comes about by recognizing one of the detective’s incompetence, which also kind of annoyed me.
Overall:
Overall, The Murder House was ok, but didn’t really live up to my expectations. I expected a lot more from the premise and it left me a little disappointed. However, the character development was well done and I enjoyed reading about most of them. I probably won’t go back and read any of the other books in this series, but I’m sure fans of the series will probably enjoy this.
Overall Rating (out of 5): 3 Stars
July 7, 2022
With book #5, Wood is inching his way upwards a strong 4. This one has a great storyline with only a few annoying points (Matilda ‘knowing’ the killer’s identity at half way point, never again mentioned being top). Also, it feels a bit rushed, with two books per year, this is perhaps not surprising, but a few annoying mistakes that an editor really should have caught is still in the version I read. 5 star material it’s not, great crime thriller reading it is!
February 10, 2020
4.5* --> 5*
Blood, guts and gore. Not exactly the aftermath you’d expect the morning following a lovely wedding but there we are. It is exactly the scene DCI Matilda Darke and her team come across when three members of a family are found brutally murdered in their home. Forensics quickly point to a petty criminal, who just happens to be on the run. But things don’t quite seem to add up and DCI Darke must keep her wits about her, while also trying to make sure her team doesn’t fall apart at the seams.
Meanwhile, Sally Meeghan is getting phone calls from someone she believes is her son. Carl went missing years ago. It’s a case that haunts Matilda Darke to this day. Is Carl still alive? Is someone playing a cruel game with his mother? And where on earth will Matilda find the time to deal with this on top of everything else?
I think you can just about get away with reading this one as a stand-alone, although why you would want to is anyone’s guess and obviously my recommendation is always to start from the beginning of a series. This team has gone through so much over the last few years, it’s really not surprising that cracks are starting to show and I truly feared for them.
But they have a job to do and a killer to catch. As to who that killer might be, I didn’t have a clue. By all appearances, this slain family seemed absolutely perfect. Who would want to harm them in such a brutal way and why? With so little information to go on, where do you even start? The tiniest little detail could blow this case right open. And let me tell you, when that happened, my jaw dropped to the floor because that is just a stroke of genius!
The Murder House is the fifth book in the DCI Matilda Darke series. I’ve been with this series from the very beginning and I feel it just isn’t talked about enough, you guys. Michael Wood delivers every single time and every single book has been outstanding but this one? Talk about raising the bar! The Murder House is intensely gripping from the first page and the pace builds up so much, I was wondering when I’d have a moment to come up for air. Deliciously dark, full of red herrings … you know what’s coming, don’t you? Best one in the series yet!
Fans of Matilda Darke will be thrilled with this latest addition, as would anyone who enjoys a solid, fast-paced and incredibly well-plotted police procedural. If Michael Wood isn’t on your radar, he bloody well should be and now is the perfect time to get caught up because there are lots of goodies coming our way from him this year.
Blood, guts and gore. Not exactly the aftermath you’d expect the morning following a lovely wedding but there we are. It is exactly the scene DCI Matilda Darke and her team come across when three members of a family are found brutally murdered in their home. Forensics quickly point to a petty criminal, who just happens to be on the run. But things don’t quite seem to add up and DCI Darke must keep her wits about her, while also trying to make sure her team doesn’t fall apart at the seams.
Meanwhile, Sally Meeghan is getting phone calls from someone she believes is her son. Carl went missing years ago. It’s a case that haunts Matilda Darke to this day. Is Carl still alive? Is someone playing a cruel game with his mother? And where on earth will Matilda find the time to deal with this on top of everything else?
I think you can just about get away with reading this one as a stand-alone, although why you would want to is anyone’s guess and obviously my recommendation is always to start from the beginning of a series. This team has gone through so much over the last few years, it’s really not surprising that cracks are starting to show and I truly feared for them.
But they have a job to do and a killer to catch. As to who that killer might be, I didn’t have a clue. By all appearances, this slain family seemed absolutely perfect. Who would want to harm them in such a brutal way and why? With so little information to go on, where do you even start? The tiniest little detail could blow this case right open. And let me tell you, when that happened, my jaw dropped to the floor because that is just a stroke of genius!
The Murder House is the fifth book in the DCI Matilda Darke series. I’ve been with this series from the very beginning and I feel it just isn’t talked about enough, you guys. Michael Wood delivers every single time and every single book has been outstanding but this one? Talk about raising the bar! The Murder House is intensely gripping from the first page and the pace builds up so much, I was wondering when I’d have a moment to come up for air. Deliciously dark, full of red herrings … you know what’s coming, don’t you? Best one in the series yet!
Fans of Matilda Darke will be thrilled with this latest addition, as would anyone who enjoys a solid, fast-paced and incredibly well-plotted police procedural. If Michael Wood isn’t on your radar, he bloody well should be and now is the perfect time to get caught up because there are lots of goodies coming our way from him this year.
February 11, 2020
When it comes to investigating crimes, DCI Matilda Darke is undaunted and indefatigable. In Michael Wood’s fifth novel of the series,
The Murder House
, Darke will need nerves of steels and the stamina of a marathon runner as she takes charge of the most brutal crime scene her team has encountered.
The murder scene is a magnificent home in Sheffield where a wedding took place the previous day. Sadly, it looks nothing like that happy event. Rather, the carpet is saturated with blood. Three bodies lie in different parts of the house, stabbed in a frenzied attack. They are the parents and brother of the bride. One young witness has been left traumatized.
When a suspect emerges, Matilda is reluctant to jump on the bandwagon. Despite the forensic evidence, her instincts and her experience tell her that something is wrong with that picture. Will she follow her gut and put her job, and perhaps her safety on the line? Or will she give in to the pressure and arrest a career criminal who may not be guilty of these heinous murders?
Having read the previous four books in the series, I felt that I knew Matilda Darke well enough to know the answer. Her decisions often get her into trouble, but she does learn from her mistakes. One of those experiences that she considers a mistake was the case of Carl Meagan, a young boy who was kidnapped. A ransom was arranged, but the drop was botched and Matilda has never forgiven herself. This case reappears in this story as well, and it still is not over. If you have not read previous books, I highly recommend reading them in order to understand what makes Matilda Darke tick. There are references to a much-valued former team member, and I had to go back to The Hangman’s Hold to see why this person is no longer part of the force.
Matilda Darke continues to evolve as a leader and as a person. She is slowly recovering from the death of her husband and starting to live again. We also get to know more about the personal lives of several members of her team, which makes them feel quite human, and likeable.
The plot kept me guessing, and although I had a likely suspect, I was nowhere close to being right. I did enjoy the tantalizing tease at the end, which makes me look forward to reading Number Six!
Thanks to NetGalley, One More Chapter, and the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.
4.5 rounded to 5 stars
The murder scene is a magnificent home in Sheffield where a wedding took place the previous day. Sadly, it looks nothing like that happy event. Rather, the carpet is saturated with blood. Three bodies lie in different parts of the house, stabbed in a frenzied attack. They are the parents and brother of the bride. One young witness has been left traumatized.
When a suspect emerges, Matilda is reluctant to jump on the bandwagon. Despite the forensic evidence, her instincts and her experience tell her that something is wrong with that picture. Will she follow her gut and put her job, and perhaps her safety on the line? Or will she give in to the pressure and arrest a career criminal who may not be guilty of these heinous murders?
Having read the previous four books in the series, I felt that I knew Matilda Darke well enough to know the answer. Her decisions often get her into trouble, but she does learn from her mistakes. One of those experiences that she considers a mistake was the case of Carl Meagan, a young boy who was kidnapped. A ransom was arranged, but the drop was botched and Matilda has never forgiven herself. This case reappears in this story as well, and it still is not over. If you have not read previous books, I highly recommend reading them in order to understand what makes Matilda Darke tick. There are references to a much-valued former team member, and I had to go back to The Hangman’s Hold to see why this person is no longer part of the force.
Matilda Darke continues to evolve as a leader and as a person. She is slowly recovering from the death of her husband and starting to live again. We also get to know more about the personal lives of several members of her team, which makes them feel quite human, and likeable.
The plot kept me guessing, and although I had a likely suspect, I was nowhere close to being right. I did enjoy the tantalizing tease at the end, which makes me look forward to reading Number Six!
Thanks to NetGalley, One More Chapter, and the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.
4.5 rounded to 5 stars
May 22, 2020
✨✨✨✨ 1/2
Following a reception,Leah and Oliver Ridgeway leave Leah’s parents’ home on their honeymoon.However the next day an attendee arrives at the house to discover the bride's family brutally murdered.From the crime scene it’s clear that the attack was personal but DCI Matilda Darke and her team are struggling to find the killer as the family was well-liked and admired in the community
The Murder House by Michael Wood is the fifth book in the DCI Matilda Darke series.I love this series with a great lead character, well thought out plots and excellently paced. Cannot wait for the next one !
I would like to thank One More Chapter & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.
This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
Following a reception,Leah and Oliver Ridgeway leave Leah’s parents’ home on their honeymoon.However the next day an attendee arrives at the house to discover the bride's family brutally murdered.From the crime scene it’s clear that the attack was personal but DCI Matilda Darke and her team are struggling to find the killer as the family was well-liked and admired in the community
The Murder House by Michael Wood is the fifth book in the DCI Matilda Darke series.I love this series with a great lead character, well thought out plots and excellently paced. Cannot wait for the next one !
I would like to thank One More Chapter & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.
This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
February 15, 2022
Another great instalment. I am very grateful to this book as I think it has started the climb out of my reading slump.
Full review later
Full review later
March 25, 2022
I am wearing my "I am an Outlier" t-shirt AGAIN.
This book received rave reviews on GR (4.45), but it was a disappointingly mediocre read for me.
The book had a strong start: the mother, father, and brother of a bride are massacred right after their daughter's wedding. Only the brother's young daughter survives the attack.
Who committed this horrific crime and left "the worst crime scene that officers had ever seen"?
The book featured waaay too much repetitive text, unnecessary tangents, and an ending that was predictable.
The book included another subplot about a cold-case kidnapping that added no significant value to the storyline.
This was my first book by author Michael Wood and the fifth of his DCI Matilda Darke series. The book was easily read as a standalone.
The author's police force characterizations were strong as was his portrayal of the daily trials and tribulations of police officers.
I especially liked the fact that there were many female officers on DCI Matilda Darke's team.
I listened to the audiobook and the narration was good but not great.
3 stars rounded up.
This book received rave reviews on GR (4.45), but it was a disappointingly mediocre read for me.
The book had a strong start: the mother, father, and brother of a bride are massacred right after their daughter's wedding. Only the brother's young daughter survives the attack.
Who committed this horrific crime and left "the worst crime scene that officers had ever seen"?
The book featured waaay too much repetitive text, unnecessary tangents, and an ending that was predictable.
The book included another subplot about a cold-case kidnapping that added no significant value to the storyline.
This was my first book by author Michael Wood and the fifth of his DCI Matilda Darke series. The book was easily read as a standalone.
The author's police force characterizations were strong as was his portrayal of the daily trials and tribulations of police officers.
I especially liked the fact that there were many female officers on DCI Matilda Darke's team.
I listened to the audiobook and the narration was good but not great.
3 stars rounded up.
April 8, 2020
Trying to catch my breath! Review to follow very soon!
July 20, 2022
Michael Wood clearly is becoming a favorite go-to author. I love his writing style and adore the main character, Matilda Darke.
November 28, 2019
I had no idea that this book was part of a series, but is definitely able to be read as a standalone if you haven't read the others. It focuses primarily on Matilda, who leads the team of police detectives tasked to solve a gruesome triple murder of a prominent couple and their adult son, just hours after their daughter's wedding. I also didn't realize that this was loosely based on a true story from 1983, which I thoroughly researched after,
I really liked this book- it was twisty, with any number of potential suspects throughout the book. I didn't figure it out until Matilda did, but considered and rejected many options as the story went on, and wasn't always sure I was right. I also liked the characters- normally I am not excited to hear the personal stories of the police when I am trying to solve the mystery, but these characters were believable and likable and I was interested in their backgrounds and interactions. I expect I'll go back and read the previous books in the series.n I particularly liked Pat and am hoping she plays a bigger role in the other books.
I have very few complaints about the book. There were 2 points where they referred to Leah as Rachel's sister instead of her aunt, which just confused me, but those were early in the book and I presume they will be corrected before the final release. I also thought that the author described the murders in detail an awful lot of times- I assume he was going for shock factor but I felt like I heard the specifics over and over again to the point where it was monotonous and I was almost desensitized to them.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and couldn't wait to see how it ended. I will likely be posting reviews on the other books in the series soon! Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked this book- it was twisty, with any number of potential suspects throughout the book. I didn't figure it out until Matilda did, but considered and rejected many options as the story went on, and wasn't always sure I was right. I also liked the characters- normally I am not excited to hear the personal stories of the police when I am trying to solve the mystery, but these characters were believable and likable and I was interested in their backgrounds and interactions. I expect I'll go back and read the previous books in the series.n I particularly liked Pat and am hoping she plays a bigger role in the other books.
I have very few complaints about the book. There were 2 points where they referred to Leah as Rachel's sister instead of her aunt, which just confused me, but those were early in the book and I presume they will be corrected before the final release. I also thought that the author described the murders in detail an awful lot of times- I assume he was going for shock factor but I felt like I heard the specifics over and over again to the point where it was monotonous and I was almost desensitized to them.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and couldn't wait to see how it ended. I will likely be posting reviews on the other books in the series soon! Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 9, 2020
Dear Reader,
I’m a big fan of Mr Wood’s writing and dearly love Matilda,Sian,Scott,Rory and the rest of the team.
I’ve read and loved all the books in the series and eagerly anticipated reading this one.
I must admit that I’m a little disappointed and disheartened at how this particular plot played out.
In my humble opinion,there was a lot of repetition especially in the descriptions of the grizzly murder scene.
The story seemed to circulate for far too long on the fact that they didn’t have any suspects who would commit such a heinous crime.
The story goes into fifth gear towards the very end when the assailant is suspected but Matilda’s actions,I felt,left a lot to be desired.
She’s an experienced detective and what she did, alone (accompanied by K?) without any backup surprised and irked me. She should know better.
I know it was probably done to raise the tension, but it left me thinking her foolhardy...a solo player, distrustful of her handpicked teammates and unwilling to follow proper procedure.
It has struck a discordant note with me and has left me feeling a little bereft.
Having said all that,the epilogue,the possibility of a conclusion to a story thread from book 1 and the promise of a very intriguing plot, have ensured that I will be joining Matilda and her team on their next case,one I’m particularly looking forward to solving.
I’m a big fan of Mr Wood’s writing and dearly love Matilda,Sian,Scott,Rory and the rest of the team.
I’ve read and loved all the books in the series and eagerly anticipated reading this one.
I must admit that I’m a little disappointed and disheartened at how this particular plot played out.
In my humble opinion,there was a lot of repetition especially in the descriptions of the grizzly murder scene.
The story seemed to circulate for far too long on the fact that they didn’t have any suspects who would commit such a heinous crime.
The story goes into fifth gear towards the very end when the assailant is suspected but Matilda’s actions,I felt,left a lot to be desired.
She’s an experienced detective and what she did, alone (accompanied by K?) without any backup surprised and irked me. She should know better.
I know it was probably done to raise the tension, but it left me thinking her foolhardy...a solo player, distrustful of her handpicked teammates and unwilling to follow proper procedure.
It has struck a discordant note with me and has left me feeling a little bereft.
Having said all that,the epilogue,the possibility of a conclusion to a story thread from book 1 and the promise of a very intriguing plot, have ensured that I will be joining Matilda and her team on their next case,one I’m particularly looking forward to solving.
January 31, 2020
Another great read in the DCI Matilda Darke series.
Matilda and the team are called to a gruesome crime scene that leaves them speechless.
A family has been slaughtered in the most brutal way and Matilda and the team are tasked with finding the killer.
There seems to be forensic evidence at the scene but it doesn’t sit right with Matilda. However, no-one else shares her viewpoint.
There’s chapters from a man on the run - but is he the killer?
The family of the victims are distraught but one of them has their own dark secret. Was this enough to make them a murderer though?
This book has a great pace and had me gripped throughout the book.
A real nail biter of an ending which I loved.
Thanks to One More Chapter and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Matilda and the team are called to a gruesome crime scene that leaves them speechless.
A family has been slaughtered in the most brutal way and Matilda and the team are tasked with finding the killer.
There seems to be forensic evidence at the scene but it doesn’t sit right with Matilda. However, no-one else shares her viewpoint.
There’s chapters from a man on the run - but is he the killer?
The family of the victims are distraught but one of them has their own dark secret. Was this enough to make them a murderer though?
This book has a great pace and had me gripped throughout the book.
A real nail biter of an ending which I loved.
Thanks to One More Chapter and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
April 23, 2020
★★★★ 3.5 to 4 stars
Sheffield, South Yorkshire. The night after a wedding. Three gruesome murders. Pillars of the community. Seemingly no motive. Enter DCI Matilda Darke and her HMET (Homicide and Major Enquiry Team).
It's the morning after the wedding of Leah Mercer to Oliver Ridgeway in a quiet and rather exclusive area of Sheffield, when the bride's family - Serena and Clive Mercer and brother Jeremy - is found stabbed to death in a disturbing frenzied attack so violent it's the worst that Matilda has ever seen. There are hundreds of fingerprints and blood spattered everywhere with one victim's face mutilated and another about decapitated. It is clearly a blood bath. Even the most seasoned detectives are queasy with the disturbing scene.
And yet in the midst of the carnage is Rachel, the bride's 7 year old niece, who was found in her room tied to a chair with her dog, Pongo. And despite the blood trailed into the room, both were unharmed. But Rachel is in catatonic shock and has not spoken a word...only screamed. Just exactly how much did she see of the violent triple murders?
The Mercers appeared to be the perfect family involved within several charities. Serena was a neurologist, Clive was an anaesthetist and Jeremy was a junior doctor in Liverpool. So who would want them dead?
As Matilda and her team begin their investigations, it is soon clear that all is not as it seems. Despite the bloodbath, the forensics are just a bit too neat, clearly pointing to a suspect who has no history of violence...and no connection to the family whatsoever. Matilda gets the feeling that the murderer is someone much closer to home. But who would want to set up a random innocent person? And why?
Running alongside the investigation is a story of missing boy Carl Meaghan. As Matilda now has her hands full with the triple homicide, she ropes in retired DI Pat Campbell to touch base with mother Sally and look into her new claims that Carl has been spotted in Sweden and the phone calls she has been receiving, seemingly from her missing son. This story arc is an ongoing one and we don't see a resolution to it here, but the ending promises us a possible future investigation.
Whilst trying to keep an eye on her team and investigate a disturbing crime, Matilda has growing concerns for a couple of members of her team. DC Rory Fleming as recently handed in his resignation but as he is one of her best detectives with a promising career, Matilda convinces him to hold off until the investigation is over before making that decision. And then there is DC Scott Andrews who clearly has something worrying him but refuses to talk about it. Matilda has her suspicions but instead of pushing him, she waits for Scott to confide in her. Plus she is still grieving the loss of her beloved husband James who died three years ago from a brain tumour. Added to that is the suicide of a DI (in a previous book) in the home she shared with James, that he lovingly built for them, making it unbearable for her to continue living there. So she bought a remote abandoned farmhouse, had it renovated and now lives out there alone. And with the stress of the case mounting colliding with her haunted memories, Matilda relies on her best friend, forensic pathologist Adele Kean, to keep her from crumbling.
I love the characters in this series and I love how they are not tainted with the stereotypical angst that is found in so many today. I have grown tired of the same old same old bitter detectives who find their solace at the bottom of a bottle or incessant grumpiness with just about everyone they come into contact with. But no so here. Matilda is a strong but sensitive detective who cares about her cases and not just about results, as well as really caring for her team. I love the camaraderie between them all. Not one of them is trying to one-up the other or show another up. They work well together and it's that that makes this a successful series. I'm also a fan of gallows humour, and while it's not used so much here, there is a bit of humour to relieve the moments of tension that is felt throughout. I'd also love DS Sian Mills' treat drawer myself! It seems neverending!
The only negative thing I have to say is I felt the book was a little drawn out in parts. It took me a few days to read it when I generally read a book a day. I felt I couldn't devour it as I can others. But that being said, it is still a compelling read that I really did enjoy. I was saddened by the ultimate outcome of the case. No spoilers.
THE MURDER HOUSE is the fifth installment in the DCI Matilda Darke series and yet it is my first. However, that didn't spoil it in any way as the reader is given enough background information it could well be read as a standalone. I'm not sure the "missing boy" story arc featured in previous books because from what I understand the first book begins after the death of Matilda's husband and Carl went missing before that. However, having not read the other books, I can't really say one way or the other though I don't think the reader misses out on anything either way.
A nailbiter from start to finish, THE MURDER HOUSE is an intriguing read for fans of Stuart MacBride, Val McDermid and Katerina Diamond.
If you like your crime fiction with a bit of blood and gore, then THE MURDER HOUSE is for you.
I would like to thank #MichaelWood, #NetGalley and #OneMoreChapter for an ARC of #TheMurderHouse in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
Sheffield, South Yorkshire. The night after a wedding. Three gruesome murders. Pillars of the community. Seemingly no motive. Enter DCI Matilda Darke and her HMET (Homicide and Major Enquiry Team).
It's the morning after the wedding of Leah Mercer to Oliver Ridgeway in a quiet and rather exclusive area of Sheffield, when the bride's family - Serena and Clive Mercer and brother Jeremy - is found stabbed to death in a disturbing frenzied attack so violent it's the worst that Matilda has ever seen. There are hundreds of fingerprints and blood spattered everywhere with one victim's face mutilated and another about decapitated. It is clearly a blood bath. Even the most seasoned detectives are queasy with the disturbing scene.
And yet in the midst of the carnage is Rachel, the bride's 7 year old niece, who was found in her room tied to a chair with her dog, Pongo. And despite the blood trailed into the room, both were unharmed. But Rachel is in catatonic shock and has not spoken a word...only screamed. Just exactly how much did she see of the violent triple murders?
The Mercers appeared to be the perfect family involved within several charities. Serena was a neurologist, Clive was an anaesthetist and Jeremy was a junior doctor in Liverpool. So who would want them dead?
As Matilda and her team begin their investigations, it is soon clear that all is not as it seems. Despite the bloodbath, the forensics are just a bit too neat, clearly pointing to a suspect who has no history of violence...and no connection to the family whatsoever. Matilda gets the feeling that the murderer is someone much closer to home. But who would want to set up a random innocent person? And why?
Running alongside the investigation is a story of missing boy Carl Meaghan. As Matilda now has her hands full with the triple homicide, she ropes in retired DI Pat Campbell to touch base with mother Sally and look into her new claims that Carl has been spotted in Sweden and the phone calls she has been receiving, seemingly from her missing son. This story arc is an ongoing one and we don't see a resolution to it here, but the ending promises us a possible future investigation.
Whilst trying to keep an eye on her team and investigate a disturbing crime, Matilda has growing concerns for a couple of members of her team. DC Rory Fleming as recently handed in his resignation but as he is one of her best detectives with a promising career, Matilda convinces him to hold off until the investigation is over before making that decision. And then there is DC Scott Andrews who clearly has something worrying him but refuses to talk about it. Matilda has her suspicions but instead of pushing him, she waits for Scott to confide in her. Plus she is still grieving the loss of her beloved husband James who died three years ago from a brain tumour. Added to that is the suicide of a DI (in a previous book) in the home she shared with James, that he lovingly built for them, making it unbearable for her to continue living there. So she bought a remote abandoned farmhouse, had it renovated and now lives out there alone. And with the stress of the case mounting colliding with her haunted memories, Matilda relies on her best friend, forensic pathologist Adele Kean, to keep her from crumbling.
I love the characters in this series and I love how they are not tainted with the stereotypical angst that is found in so many today. I have grown tired of the same old same old bitter detectives who find their solace at the bottom of a bottle or incessant grumpiness with just about everyone they come into contact with. But no so here. Matilda is a strong but sensitive detective who cares about her cases and not just about results, as well as really caring for her team. I love the camaraderie between them all. Not one of them is trying to one-up the other or show another up. They work well together and it's that that makes this a successful series. I'm also a fan of gallows humour, and while it's not used so much here, there is a bit of humour to relieve the moments of tension that is felt throughout. I'd also love DS Sian Mills' treat drawer myself! It seems neverending!
The only negative thing I have to say is I felt the book was a little drawn out in parts. It took me a few days to read it when I generally read a book a day. I felt I couldn't devour it as I can others. But that being said, it is still a compelling read that I really did enjoy. I was saddened by the ultimate outcome of the case. No spoilers.
THE MURDER HOUSE is the fifth installment in the DCI Matilda Darke series and yet it is my first. However, that didn't spoil it in any way as the reader is given enough background information it could well be read as a standalone. I'm not sure the "missing boy" story arc featured in previous books because from what I understand the first book begins after the death of Matilda's husband and Carl went missing before that. However, having not read the other books, I can't really say one way or the other though I don't think the reader misses out on anything either way.
A nailbiter from start to finish, THE MURDER HOUSE is an intriguing read for fans of Stuart MacBride, Val McDermid and Katerina Diamond.
If you like your crime fiction with a bit of blood and gore, then THE MURDER HOUSE is for you.
I would like to thank #MichaelWood, #NetGalley and #OneMoreChapter for an ARC of #TheMurderHouse in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
August 12, 2022
There is only one word I can say about this book and that is WOW!!!!!
This is one hell of a read. Be warmed not for the squeamish but OMG it certainly ticked all my boxes. Mystery, misdirection, gripping, chilling and heart breaking. No clue who the killer was until the big reveal. I started this book in the afternoon and finally turned the last page at 2.am. A real tour de force of a crime thriller and the best in the series so far. I absolutely loved it!!!!!!
This is one hell of a read. Be warmed not for the squeamish but OMG it certainly ticked all my boxes. Mystery, misdirection, gripping, chilling and heart breaking. No clue who the killer was until the big reveal. I started this book in the afternoon and finally turned the last page at 2.am. A real tour de force of a crime thriller and the best in the series so far. I absolutely loved it!!!!!!
February 4, 2020
I have been (im)patiently awaiting the fifth instalment of the Matilda Darke crime series, as hand on heart I can say ‘ I absolutely love this series’. When I enjoy a series so much I always worry the book won’t be as good as previous books in the series, but I’m delighted to report that any worries I had were unjustified, in fact I would say The Murder House is the author’s best book yet, it’s dark, erring on the gory side with an intriguing plot that will leave you blurry eyed as you forsake sleep for ‘just another chapter or ten!’
Give Michael Wood his due he knows how to get the reader’s attention from the off, the first chapter opens with a wedding and ends in a bloodbath when three members of the same family are murdered in the most appalling way. On first appearance the victims appear to be the ‘perfect’ family, pillars of the local community, they regularly fundraised and contributed to local causes, so why would someone want them dead? What possible motive could they have? I must admit rather like Matilda and her team I had no idea!
For me a crime thriller is never more satisfying, than when you have a list of suspects as long as your arm and the author makes it’s almost impossible to guess the culprit, for me it makes the read that more thrilling as you try to search for clues, hold on to the suspects every word looking for the slightest slip up. I felt like a detective (admittedly an amateur one!) working alongside Matilda to capture the murderer, each character came under scrutiny.
As for Matilda I love the way her character is evolving, she’s strong and determined and yet she has a sense of vulnerability mostly due to a cold case that haunts her, Matilda feels she failed missing child, Carl Meagan, who was never found. The case is a disturbing one and one which has a big impact on the team, when you add in budget cuts, and personal issues you realise this is a team that could buckle as they are tested to the limits. These are characters with feelings, real emotions, and depth which made the read that more authentic. As the case gains momentum, the tension intensifies urging the reader onwards, through red herrings and misdirection.
Although this book could be read as a stand-alone I would urge you to start at the beginning, just because this is such a cracking series, it would be a shame if you missed out on the four previous books. I almost shrieked in frustration at Michael Wood as he winds up the The Murder House with the biggest teaser yet! Such an ingenious ploy as now I’m left counting down the days to the next book in the series.The Murder House is fast-paced read ‘whodunnit’, that I would happily recommend to all crime thriller lovers.
Give Michael Wood his due he knows how to get the reader’s attention from the off, the first chapter opens with a wedding and ends in a bloodbath when three members of the same family are murdered in the most appalling way. On first appearance the victims appear to be the ‘perfect’ family, pillars of the local community, they regularly fundraised and contributed to local causes, so why would someone want them dead? What possible motive could they have? I must admit rather like Matilda and her team I had no idea!
For me a crime thriller is never more satisfying, than when you have a list of suspects as long as your arm and the author makes it’s almost impossible to guess the culprit, for me it makes the read that more thrilling as you try to search for clues, hold on to the suspects every word looking for the slightest slip up. I felt like a detective (admittedly an amateur one!) working alongside Matilda to capture the murderer, each character came under scrutiny.
As for Matilda I love the way her character is evolving, she’s strong and determined and yet she has a sense of vulnerability mostly due to a cold case that haunts her, Matilda feels she failed missing child, Carl Meagan, who was never found. The case is a disturbing one and one which has a big impact on the team, when you add in budget cuts, and personal issues you realise this is a team that could buckle as they are tested to the limits. These are characters with feelings, real emotions, and depth which made the read that more authentic. As the case gains momentum, the tension intensifies urging the reader onwards, through red herrings and misdirection.
Although this book could be read as a stand-alone I would urge you to start at the beginning, just because this is such a cracking series, it would be a shame if you missed out on the four previous books. I almost shrieked in frustration at Michael Wood as he winds up the The Murder House with the biggest teaser yet! Such an ingenious ploy as now I’m left counting down the days to the next book in the series.The Murder House is fast-paced read ‘whodunnit’, that I would happily recommend to all crime thriller lovers.
March 24, 2020
Here we are at book five of the DCI Matilda Darke series and this is another captivating read from the pen of Michael Wood.
The book begins with a grisly, brutal murder scene following on from a wedding reception held the previous day at the home of The Mercers. A seemingly respectable family in the rasising money and awareness for various charities in their communities. The parents and son have been murdered, but Rachel, the Mercer's granddaughter is still alive and may have borne witness to some of the horrors. Darke and her team are somewhat baffled as lot doesn't appear to add up.
I've really taken a like to DCI Darke and her no nonsense approach; the way she treats her team and her friendships. She seems a down to earth character dealing with her own demons yet slowly finding glimmers of light as time moves on.
The book is written to keep you hooked and 'one more chapter' turns into many long past your bedtime .... if that's your thing!! I highly recommend these books by Wood. My favourite is still book three. There was just something about that one that really got to me and I still think about it. I look forward to more from DCI Darke because you know it's going to be good!!
Many thanks for my review copy. Much enjoyed!
The book begins with a grisly, brutal murder scene following on from a wedding reception held the previous day at the home of The Mercers. A seemingly respectable family in the rasising money and awareness for various charities in their communities. The parents and son have been murdered, but Rachel, the Mercer's granddaughter is still alive and may have borne witness to some of the horrors. Darke and her team are somewhat baffled as lot doesn't appear to add up.
I've really taken a like to DCI Darke and her no nonsense approach; the way she treats her team and her friendships. She seems a down to earth character dealing with her own demons yet slowly finding glimmers of light as time moves on.
The book is written to keep you hooked and 'one more chapter' turns into many long past your bedtime .... if that's your thing!! I highly recommend these books by Wood. My favourite is still book three. There was just something about that one that really got to me and I still think about it. I look forward to more from DCI Darke because you know it's going to be good!!
Many thanks for my review copy. Much enjoyed!
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