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DI Zigic and DS Ferreira #5
Between Two Evils
As the country bakes under the relentless summer sun, a young doctor is found brutally murdered at his home in a picturesque Cambridgeshire village. Is his death connected to his private life - or his professional one? Dr Joshua Ainsworth worked at an all-female detention centre, one still recovering from a major scandal a few years before. Was he the whistle-blower - or an instigator? As Detective Sergeant Ferreira and Detective Inspector Zigic begin to painstakingly reconstruct Dr Ainsworth's last days, they uncover yet more secrets and more suspects. But this isn't the only case that's demanding their attention - a violent criminal has been released on a technicality and the police force know he will strike again: the only question is who will be his first victim...
384 pages, Paperback
First published February 6, 2020
27 people are currently reading
332 people want to read
About the author
Eva Dolan
8 books355 followersEva Dolan was shortlisted for the CWA Dagger for unpublished authors when only a teenager. The four novels in her Zigic and Ferreira series have been published to widespread critical acclaim: Tell No Tales and After You Die were shortlisted for the Theakston’s Crime Novel of the Year Award and After You Die was also longlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger. She lives in Cambridge.
@eva_dolan
@eva_dolan
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
January 7, 2020
This is brilliant addition to Eva Dolan's stellar crime fiction series set in Peterborough featuring the diligent DI Dushan Zigic and the more gut instinct, if more emotional, DS Mel Ferreira. Dolan writes gritty and complex crime fiction, diverse, character driven and which reflects the contemporary state of nation issues dominating the country, but without compromising the story. In a sweltering summer, in a Cambridgeshire village the brutally murdered body of Dr Joshua Ainsworth is discovered at his home, a enthusiastic cyclist, employed at the politically sensitive Long Fleet Removal Centre for women and children awaiting deportation. It looks like a burglary gone wrong, with the victim's phone and computer missing but this may not be so.
The detention centre has attracted a emotive, vociferous and committed crowd of regular protesters and the victim, part of the medical team responsible for the inmates health care, has been the target of a leaflet campaign aimed at those employed by the centre run by private contractors, Securicat. In the past, the centre has been the subject of a anonymous whistleblower over staff racism and other harrowing abuses, although a new head, James Hammond, spearheaded a clear out of those deemed to be responsible. Zigic has been warned to steer clear of the centre by Chief Superintendent Riggott, but as the case progresses, finds it increasingly difficult to comply as leads and Ferreira push for a closer look at potential suspects there. The release of a serial rapist and abuser, Lee Walton, on a technicality, strike terror in the hearts of the police as they know Walton will, before long, strike again. Walton's threatening contact with Ferreira, pushes DCI Billy Adams to co-opt a reluctant Zigic to abandon his usual integrity, to pursue a past case that they hope will put Walton back inside.
Where Dolan excels is in the creation and development of characters that reflect and provide insights into the knotty issues that divide our communities, Brexit, the difficulties faced by refugees and asylum seekers, the racism, the hatred, the real life abuses known to have taken place in deportation centres, and the traumatised vulnerable, and fragile women and children imprisoned within them. We are immersed in the everyday lives of the police officers, their families and relationships, the issues and worries that gnaw at them in their daily life, the budget cuts, the unexciting but high levels of paperwork, and the constraints that beset modern policing today. This is a crime series that is a cut above, totally compulsive, and part of that fine tradition of crime writing that rises above its genre with its finger on the pulse of our chaotic times. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Bloomsbury for an ARC.
The detention centre has attracted a emotive, vociferous and committed crowd of regular protesters and the victim, part of the medical team responsible for the inmates health care, has been the target of a leaflet campaign aimed at those employed by the centre run by private contractors, Securicat. In the past, the centre has been the subject of a anonymous whistleblower over staff racism and other harrowing abuses, although a new head, James Hammond, spearheaded a clear out of those deemed to be responsible. Zigic has been warned to steer clear of the centre by Chief Superintendent Riggott, but as the case progresses, finds it increasingly difficult to comply as leads and Ferreira push for a closer look at potential suspects there. The release of a serial rapist and abuser, Lee Walton, on a technicality, strike terror in the hearts of the police as they know Walton will, before long, strike again. Walton's threatening contact with Ferreira, pushes DCI Billy Adams to co-opt a reluctant Zigic to abandon his usual integrity, to pursue a past case that they hope will put Walton back inside.
Where Dolan excels is in the creation and development of characters that reflect and provide insights into the knotty issues that divide our communities, Brexit, the difficulties faced by refugees and asylum seekers, the racism, the hatred, the real life abuses known to have taken place in deportation centres, and the traumatised vulnerable, and fragile women and children imprisoned within them. We are immersed in the everyday lives of the police officers, their families and relationships, the issues and worries that gnaw at them in their daily life, the budget cuts, the unexciting but high levels of paperwork, and the constraints that beset modern policing today. This is a crime series that is a cut above, totally compulsive, and part of that fine tradition of crime writing that rises above its genre with its finger on the pulse of our chaotic times. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Bloomsbury for an ARC.
November 23, 2019
Between Two Evils, the 5th instalment of the DI Zigic and DS Ferreira series, has Eva Dolan turning her searching gaze towards yet another significant social question: the multifaceted forms of racism and abuse experienced by immigrants to the UK. When a doctor is found dead in his home, his work in the local all-female detention centre provides an obvious avenue for investigation, especially when the detectives discover his role in whistle-blowing a culture of horrifying misconduct. But that’s not all the officers have on their plate. A violent serial rapist has been freed thanks to police malpractice and Zigic and Ferreira know that it’s only a matter of time before he attacks again. And this time it might be even closer to home…
Now what Dolan does really well is express complex, emotive subjects in terms of personal stories. With each diverse voice, Dolan removes the distance between ‘us’ and ‘them’, offering experiences and perspectives which might or might not be different from the reader’s own. In this instalment, it’s clear that Dolan wants to break down popular media portrayals of ‘immigrants’ as one unidentifiable mass, a blanket concept, a problem. As she has done with various other marginalised groups in the past, Dolan works to present every person as an individual. This is expressly done through the author’s development of ongoing and newly added characters. As the story progresses, the questions raised by the plot are expanded through individual perspectives, particularly those of Zigic and Ferreira. At one point, Mel recalls being repeatedly surveilled by a local shopkeeper because of the colour of her skin, at another Dushan wonders how his asylum seeker grandparents would fare in today’s society. Would they be detained like the women in the detention centre? Maybe even deported? Both are deeply affected by the issues raised throughout the book, informed by their lived experience. And our connection to them, built over the series, opens the way for better understanding of others' lives. Dolan’s books might be determinedly issue-led, but the reading experience is only enhanced by this underlying authenticity and the author's social conscience.
So why the 4 stars? Partly because every now and then the main characters didn’t feel like themselves. It was especially evident in Zigic, who seemed inconsistent throughout and whose family drama felt unnecessarily tacked on. Then there’s the ending. From an author like Eva Dolan, who writes clever and surprising fiction, this was a let down. I was expecting something more than a scene which has been done so many times before that it borders on cliche. Considering that ANY other resolution than the one that we got would have been more unexpected and a good deal more appealing, it was a strange choice. And for me an unconvincing one.
Nevertheless, this is still a good offering, fast paced and thought provoking.
ARC via Netgalley
Now what Dolan does really well is express complex, emotive subjects in terms of personal stories. With each diverse voice, Dolan removes the distance between ‘us’ and ‘them’, offering experiences and perspectives which might or might not be different from the reader’s own. In this instalment, it’s clear that Dolan wants to break down popular media portrayals of ‘immigrants’ as one unidentifiable mass, a blanket concept, a problem. As she has done with various other marginalised groups in the past, Dolan works to present every person as an individual. This is expressly done through the author’s development of ongoing and newly added characters. As the story progresses, the questions raised by the plot are expanded through individual perspectives, particularly those of Zigic and Ferreira. At one point, Mel recalls being repeatedly surveilled by a local shopkeeper because of the colour of her skin, at another Dushan wonders how his asylum seeker grandparents would fare in today’s society. Would they be detained like the women in the detention centre? Maybe even deported? Both are deeply affected by the issues raised throughout the book, informed by their lived experience. And our connection to them, built over the series, opens the way for better understanding of others' lives. Dolan’s books might be determinedly issue-led, but the reading experience is only enhanced by this underlying authenticity and the author's social conscience.
So why the 4 stars? Partly because every now and then the main characters didn’t feel like themselves. It was especially evident in Zigic, who seemed inconsistent throughout and whose family drama felt unnecessarily tacked on. Then there’s the ending. From an author like Eva Dolan, who writes clever and surprising fiction, this was a let down. I was expecting something more than a scene which has been done so many times before that it borders on cliche. Considering that ANY other resolution than the one that we got would have been more unexpected and a good deal more appealing, it was a strange choice. And for me an unconvincing one.
Nevertheless, this is still a good offering, fast paced and thought provoking.
ARC via Netgalley
November 20, 2019
Dolan writes intelligent police procedurals with one eye on the current news and a social conscience never far from the surface. For all that, she's never overly predictable (for example, not all the protesters against a local immigration centre/prison-alike are salubrious...) With gestures towards Brexit, the rise of racial hate crimes and a focus on bullying and abuse, this is topical but not at the expense of a gripping story. My only criticism is that we have a clichéd climax Still, with two attractive leads and a twisty storyline this is superior crime fiction.
Many thanks to the publishers for an ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the publishers for an ARC via NetGalley.
July 31, 2020
God, I love this series - so glad that Eva Dolan is returning to it! I love the way she presents complex realities without preaching or showing either side as being too angelic!
Longer review here: https://findingtimetowrite.wordpress....
Longer review here: https://findingtimetowrite.wordpress....
November 4, 2020
A compelling read, great characters and plot. Set in UK fenland again, (different detectives) and a detention centre inmates. Good insights into pressures of modern policing, affected by mistakes, errors, revisions etc. Only gripe is it’s length - a mighty tome of a book, allowing for endless accounts of psychology of interviewing persons of interest and very detailed building of a case.
January 14, 2022
This kept me guessing, although at times the secondary storyline was a distraction and I could have done without the thread about the suspect who fled to France altogether. A thoughtful read with a strong ending.
November 5, 2020
A police procedural where detectives investigate a murder of a doctor who works at a female detention centre. This feels very contemporary with references to Brexit, immigration and asylum seekers in the UK.
This is the fifth book in the series and although this is a stand alone novel I felt you had to have read some of the others to understand the main characters more.
The ending was a little unexpected not in terms of who did it, but we learn how one of the main characters, DS Ferreira now has a secret. This can lead to a lot of trouble for herself going forward.
Something Eva Dolan can exploit.
This is the fifth book in the series and although this is a stand alone novel I felt you had to have read some of the others to understand the main characters more.
The ending was a little unexpected not in terms of who did it, but we learn how one of the main characters, DS Ferreira now has a secret. This can lead to a lot of trouble for herself going forward.
Something Eva Dolan can exploit.
February 4, 2020
There are two writers who are never less than razor sharp when it comes to marrying crime fiction with contemporary societal concerns and whose books are a must read when they come out. Sarah Hilary is one; Eva Dolan the other.
I love Dolan’s writing; whether stand-alone like the excellent This Is How It Ends or part of a series. Between Two Evils is the 5th in the Zigic and Ferreira series and a welcome return to these two excellent characters.
D.S. Mel Ferreira is still smouldering, six months afterwards, over the closure of the Peterborough Hate Crimes Unit and her and D.I. Dushan Zigic’s assimilation into CID.
Still, the case they are given to handle falls squarely into their previous comfort zone. Dr Joshua Ainsworth has been brutally murdered. He was employed at the controversial and scandal-ridden Long Fleet Removal Centre – a facility for women awaiting deportation. It’s possible that his job was not related to his death but his employment at Long Fleet’s controversial past certainly gives Zigic and Ferreira cause for thought.
Long Fleet has had a contentious existence. Run by private contractors, it has been plagued by accusations of racism, sexual assault and other abuses of power. Staff have been the subject of targetted leaflet campaigns and the centre attracts a substantial ongoing protest lobby. Ainsworth was part of the medical team looking after the women and children and he too has suffered abuse from the protestors, who have gone so far as to identify him in their literature.
James Hammond, the new boss of Long Fleet prides himself on being the new broom sweeping clean, and so Zigic and Ferreira’s enquiries are about as welcome as a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.
Chief Superintendent Riggott, ever keen to please his political superiors, warns Zigic and Ferreira off, but of course life isn’t quite that simple. To add insult to injury Lee Walton an especially nasty, violent serial rapist has been released from prison on a technicality. It’s only a matter of time before he commits another abusive act, but this time he will strike close to home.
This novel works because Dolan focuses on characters and character development, inculcating the societal issues she is dealing with through the lived experience of Zigic, Ferreira and others. We know only too well how awful these detention centres are and what abuses are perpetrated against women and children at the time when they are most vulnerable.
Dolan’s pen is delicate, yet savage as she portrays the potential for serial abuse that this country inflicts upon those who come here in fear for their lives, seeking refuge and asylum. She shows us how it must feel to be insecure, vulnerable and traumatised. Knowing that we are currently extending an unsavoury, racist policy to encompass many more people including those who have lived here all their lives, makes this story ever more poignant and tragic.
Dolan’s writing is finely honed and she tells her stories in such a personal way that the reader is caught up in these characters’ lives, understanding their emotions, feeling their fear and knowing that justice is a long way from their own experience of living in Britain.
She weaves her politically charged storylines together with a fine use of light and shade; providing substance in the fabric of her prose without compromising the skilled progression of this police procedural. Dolan is not only able to take a crime and make it both topical and fascinating, she is never predictable and the story evolves in ways that the reader does not expect.
Zigic and Ferreira are central to this approach. As we understand more of their own lives and backgrounds we understand what drives them and why they react as they do.We see the women in the detention centre through their eyes and that makes them human; unique personalities rather than just characters to whom ‘bad things happen’. These are complex, rounded individuals whose hopes and fears inform us as they search for answers to solve the current crime.
The secondary plot provides a faster paced and tension driven edge to the storyline, coupled with some surprising behaviour that puts Zigic front and centre of a difficult professional dilemma and causes some grief in his usually excellent relationship with Ferreira.
Verdict: Eva Dolan shows once again what a class act she is. Abuse of power, racism and corruption are tackled in a police procedural that resonates loud and strong, using character driven storytelling to shed a light on the powerful individual stories that come from the plight of asylum seekers and refugees in Britain. Stunning storytelling married with complex characterisation creates a winning crime combination and propels book this headlong into the ‘Must Read’ category.
I love Dolan’s writing; whether stand-alone like the excellent This Is How It Ends or part of a series. Between Two Evils is the 5th in the Zigic and Ferreira series and a welcome return to these two excellent characters.
D.S. Mel Ferreira is still smouldering, six months afterwards, over the closure of the Peterborough Hate Crimes Unit and her and D.I. Dushan Zigic’s assimilation into CID.
Still, the case they are given to handle falls squarely into their previous comfort zone. Dr Joshua Ainsworth has been brutally murdered. He was employed at the controversial and scandal-ridden Long Fleet Removal Centre – a facility for women awaiting deportation. It’s possible that his job was not related to his death but his employment at Long Fleet’s controversial past certainly gives Zigic and Ferreira cause for thought.
Long Fleet has had a contentious existence. Run by private contractors, it has been plagued by accusations of racism, sexual assault and other abuses of power. Staff have been the subject of targetted leaflet campaigns and the centre attracts a substantial ongoing protest lobby. Ainsworth was part of the medical team looking after the women and children and he too has suffered abuse from the protestors, who have gone so far as to identify him in their literature.
James Hammond, the new boss of Long Fleet prides himself on being the new broom sweeping clean, and so Zigic and Ferreira’s enquiries are about as welcome as a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.
Chief Superintendent Riggott, ever keen to please his political superiors, warns Zigic and Ferreira off, but of course life isn’t quite that simple. To add insult to injury Lee Walton an especially nasty, violent serial rapist has been released from prison on a technicality. It’s only a matter of time before he commits another abusive act, but this time he will strike close to home.
This novel works because Dolan focuses on characters and character development, inculcating the societal issues she is dealing with through the lived experience of Zigic, Ferreira and others. We know only too well how awful these detention centres are and what abuses are perpetrated against women and children at the time when they are most vulnerable.
Dolan’s pen is delicate, yet savage as she portrays the potential for serial abuse that this country inflicts upon those who come here in fear for their lives, seeking refuge and asylum. She shows us how it must feel to be insecure, vulnerable and traumatised. Knowing that we are currently extending an unsavoury, racist policy to encompass many more people including those who have lived here all their lives, makes this story ever more poignant and tragic.
Dolan’s writing is finely honed and she tells her stories in such a personal way that the reader is caught up in these characters’ lives, understanding their emotions, feeling their fear and knowing that justice is a long way from their own experience of living in Britain.
She weaves her politically charged storylines together with a fine use of light and shade; providing substance in the fabric of her prose without compromising the skilled progression of this police procedural. Dolan is not only able to take a crime and make it both topical and fascinating, she is never predictable and the story evolves in ways that the reader does not expect.
Zigic and Ferreira are central to this approach. As we understand more of their own lives and backgrounds we understand what drives them and why they react as they do.We see the women in the detention centre through their eyes and that makes them human; unique personalities rather than just characters to whom ‘bad things happen’. These are complex, rounded individuals whose hopes and fears inform us as they search for answers to solve the current crime.
The secondary plot provides a faster paced and tension driven edge to the storyline, coupled with some surprising behaviour that puts Zigic front and centre of a difficult professional dilemma and causes some grief in his usually excellent relationship with Ferreira.
Verdict: Eva Dolan shows once again what a class act she is. Abuse of power, racism and corruption are tackled in a police procedural that resonates loud and strong, using character driven storytelling to shed a light on the powerful individual stories that come from the plight of asylum seekers and refugees in Britain. Stunning storytelling married with complex characterisation creates a winning crime combination and propels book this headlong into the ‘Must Read’ category.
June 6, 2021
I’m still struggling with having enough concentration to read, even though we’re over a year into the COVID-19 global pandemic. Normally reading is such a comfort, but I can’t lose myself in books the way I usually do. I don’t think this is impacting my ratings though, when I do read.
Another strong Ferreira and Zigic instalment. Love this series, long may it continue.
My rating strategy:
5 stars = An all time favourite, I could tell you about this 10 years later.
4 stars = Loved this, really gripping/fun/exciting, will remember long term.
3 stars = Definitely enjoyed, might forget quickly though, but happy to read more by the author.
2 stars = Likely to have some goood points, but it didn't properly captivate me.
1 star = Not my cup of tea at all, wouldn't return to the author.
February 16, 2020
The fifth book in the DI Zigic and DS Ferreira series and it was great to pick up with my two favourite detectives again. This story is set around a murdered doctor who worked at a all-female detention centre. Josh Ainsworth comes across as spotless, but was he really?
At the same time as they’re looking into the murder, a highly dangerous criminal has just been released from prison looking to cause a whole lot of trouble for the police and anyone else he comes into contact with. Can Zigic and Ferreira stop him whilst working this case?
I don’t read many, if any police procedurals these days, I’m not sure why, but I always, always look out for a new book in this fantastic series. What I love about this series is that the police are portrayed well for a change, not corrupted and nasty. They have there moments of course, they’re human and want to get the villains behind bars, but Zigic wants to do it properly, sometimes having to rein Ferreira in when she gets the bit between her teeth and won’t let go.
I also enjoy the back stories I’ve learnt through each book, getting to know a bit more about them, understanding how the crimes the investigate sometimes make them reflect on their past lives. I learnt loads more about Ferreira this time which was great and helps to understand why she comes across as rather hard nosed at times. Zigic also thinks about his past, when the storyline about his family, particularly his two young sons is mentioned throughout.
Getting back to the investigation I definitely felt like ‘a fly on the wall’ as they tried to work out who the killer was and of course the motive. I was completely wrong as usual, even thinking that they’d got wrong totally the wrong person when I was at 83%! Duh!!!
This is my favourite police procedural series and I thoroughly recommend it to anyone to likes this genre, especially as it doesn’t have as much love on Goodreads as it should!
Thanks so much to NetGalley, Bloomsbury and Raven Books for my digital ARC.
At the same time as they’re looking into the murder, a highly dangerous criminal has just been released from prison looking to cause a whole lot of trouble for the police and anyone else he comes into contact with. Can Zigic and Ferreira stop him whilst working this case?
I don’t read many, if any police procedurals these days, I’m not sure why, but I always, always look out for a new book in this fantastic series. What I love about this series is that the police are portrayed well for a change, not corrupted and nasty. They have there moments of course, they’re human and want to get the villains behind bars, but Zigic wants to do it properly, sometimes having to rein Ferreira in when she gets the bit between her teeth and won’t let go.
I also enjoy the back stories I’ve learnt through each book, getting to know a bit more about them, understanding how the crimes the investigate sometimes make them reflect on their past lives. I learnt loads more about Ferreira this time which was great and helps to understand why she comes across as rather hard nosed at times. Zigic also thinks about his past, when the storyline about his family, particularly his two young sons is mentioned throughout.
Getting back to the investigation I definitely felt like ‘a fly on the wall’ as they tried to work out who the killer was and of course the motive. I was completely wrong as usual, even thinking that they’d got wrong totally the wrong person when I was at 83%! Duh!!!
This is my favourite police procedural series and I thoroughly recommend it to anyone to likes this genre, especially as it doesn’t have as much love on Goodreads as it should!
Thanks so much to NetGalley, Bloomsbury and Raven Books for my digital ARC.
February 10, 2020
There are two writers who are never less than razor sharp when it comes to marrying crime fiction with contemporary societal concerns and whose books are a must read when they come out. Sarah Hilary is one; Eva Dolan the other.
I love Dolan’s writing; whether stand-alone like the excellent This Is How It Ends or part of a series. Between Two Evils is the 5th in the Zigic and Ferreira series and a welcome return to these two excellent characters.
D.S. Mel Ferreira is still smouldering, six months afterwards, over the closure of the Peterborough Hate Crimes Unit and her and D.I. Dushan Zigic’s assimilation into CID.
Still, the case they are given to handle falls squarely into their previous comfort zone. Dr Joshua Ainsworth has been brutally murdered. He was employed at the controversial and scandal-ridden Long Fleet Removal Centre – a facility for women awaiting deportation. It’s possible that his job was not related to his death but his employment at Long Fleet’s controversial past certainly gives Zigic and Ferreira cause for thought.
Long Fleet has had a contentious existence. Run by private contractors, it has been plagued by accusations of racism, sexual assault and other abuses of power. Staff have been the subject of targetted leaflet campaigns and the centre attracts a substantial ongoing protest lobby. Ainsworth was part of the medical team looking after the women and children and he too has suffered abuse from the protestors, who have gone so far as to identify him in their literature.
James Hammond, the new boss of Long Fleet prides himself on being the new broom sweeping clean, and so Zigic and Ferreira’s enquiries are about as welcome as a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.
Chief Superintendent Riggott, ever keen to please his political superiors, warns Zigic and Ferreira off, but of course life isn’t quite that simple. To add insult to injury Lee Walton an especially nasty, violent serial rapist has been released from prison on a technicality. It’s only a matter of time before he commits another abusive act, but this time he will strike close to home.
This novel works because Dolan focuses on characters and character development, inculcating the societal issues she is dealing with through the lived experience of Zigic, Ferreira and others. We know only too well how awful these detention centres are and what abuses are perpetrated against women and children at the time when they are most vulnerable.
Dolan’s pen is delicate, yet savage as she portrays the potential for serial abuse that this country inflicts upon those who come here in fear for their lives, seeking refuge and asylum. She shows us how it must feel to be insecure, vulnerable and traumatised. Knowing that we are currently extending an unsavoury, racist policy to encompass many more people including those who have lived here all their lives, makes this story ever more poignant and tragic.
Dolan’s writing is finely honed and she tells her stories in such a personal way that the reader is caught up in these characters’ lives, understanding their emotions, feeling their fear and knowing that justice is a long way from their own experience of living in Britain.
She weaves her politically charged storylines together with a fine use of light and shade; providing substance in the fabric of her prose without compromising the skilled progression of this police procedural. Dolan is not only able to take a crime and make it both topical and fascinating, she is never predictable and the story evolves in ways that the reader does not expect.
Zigic and Ferreira are central to this approach. As we understand more of their own lives and backgrounds we understand what drives them and why they react as they do.We see the women in the detention centre through their eyes and that makes them human; unique personalities rather than just characters to whom ‘bad things happen’. These are complex, rounded individuals whose hopes and fears inform us as they search for answers to solve the current crime.
The secondary plot provides a faster paced and tension driven edge to the storyline, coupled with some surprising behaviour that puts Zigic front and centre of a difficult professional dilemma and causes some grief in his usually excellent relationship with Ferreira.
Verdict: Eva Dolan shows once again what a class act she is. Abuse of power, racism and corruption are tackled in a police procedural that resonates loud and strong, using character driven storytelling to shed a light on the powerful individual stories that come from the plight of asylum seekers and refugees in Britain. Stunning storytelling married with complex characterisation creates a winning crime combination and propels book this headlong into the ‘Must Read’ category.
I love Dolan’s writing; whether stand-alone like the excellent This Is How It Ends or part of a series. Between Two Evils is the 5th in the Zigic and Ferreira series and a welcome return to these two excellent characters.
D.S. Mel Ferreira is still smouldering, six months afterwards, over the closure of the Peterborough Hate Crimes Unit and her and D.I. Dushan Zigic’s assimilation into CID.
Still, the case they are given to handle falls squarely into their previous comfort zone. Dr Joshua Ainsworth has been brutally murdered. He was employed at the controversial and scandal-ridden Long Fleet Removal Centre – a facility for women awaiting deportation. It’s possible that his job was not related to his death but his employment at Long Fleet’s controversial past certainly gives Zigic and Ferreira cause for thought.
Long Fleet has had a contentious existence. Run by private contractors, it has been plagued by accusations of racism, sexual assault and other abuses of power. Staff have been the subject of targetted leaflet campaigns and the centre attracts a substantial ongoing protest lobby. Ainsworth was part of the medical team looking after the women and children and he too has suffered abuse from the protestors, who have gone so far as to identify him in their literature.
James Hammond, the new boss of Long Fleet prides himself on being the new broom sweeping clean, and so Zigic and Ferreira’s enquiries are about as welcome as a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.
Chief Superintendent Riggott, ever keen to please his political superiors, warns Zigic and Ferreira off, but of course life isn’t quite that simple. To add insult to injury Lee Walton an especially nasty, violent serial rapist has been released from prison on a technicality. It’s only a matter of time before he commits another abusive act, but this time he will strike close to home.
This novel works because Dolan focuses on characters and character development, inculcating the societal issues she is dealing with through the lived experience of Zigic, Ferreira and others. We know only too well how awful these detention centres are and what abuses are perpetrated against women and children at the time when they are most vulnerable.
Dolan’s pen is delicate, yet savage as she portrays the potential for serial abuse that this country inflicts upon those who come here in fear for their lives, seeking refuge and asylum. She shows us how it must feel to be insecure, vulnerable and traumatised. Knowing that we are currently extending an unsavoury, racist policy to encompass many more people including those who have lived here all their lives, makes this story ever more poignant and tragic.
Dolan’s writing is finely honed and she tells her stories in such a personal way that the reader is caught up in these characters’ lives, understanding their emotions, feeling their fear and knowing that justice is a long way from their own experience of living in Britain.
She weaves her politically charged storylines together with a fine use of light and shade; providing substance in the fabric of her prose without compromising the skilled progression of this police procedural. Dolan is not only able to take a crime and make it both topical and fascinating, she is never predictable and the story evolves in ways that the reader does not expect.
Zigic and Ferreira are central to this approach. As we understand more of their own lives and backgrounds we understand what drives them and why they react as they do.We see the women in the detention centre through their eyes and that makes them human; unique personalities rather than just characters to whom ‘bad things happen’. These are complex, rounded individuals whose hopes and fears inform us as they search for answers to solve the current crime.
The secondary plot provides a faster paced and tension driven edge to the storyline, coupled with some surprising behaviour that puts Zigic front and centre of a difficult professional dilemma and causes some grief in his usually excellent relationship with Ferreira.
Verdict: Eva Dolan shows once again what a class act she is. Abuse of power, racism and corruption are tackled in a police procedural that resonates loud and strong, using character driven storytelling to shed a light on the powerful individual stories that come from the plight of asylum seekers and refugees in Britain. Stunning storytelling married with complex characterisation creates a winning crime combination and propels book this headlong into the ‘Must Read’ category.
January 12, 2021
I can’t believe that this is the first time I have even heard of Eva Dolan - I clearly need to keep my ear closer to the ground. The second book I have read so far this year set during the heatwave in 2018 (see my review here) - and it is still a good idea reading these in January!
A doctor is found murdered in his home, days after returning from a holiday. He works in one of the detention centres set up in Tory Britain to create a hostile environment for any immigrants who aren’t of the right sort. On the case are detectives Zigic and Ferreira, smarting after their Hate Crimes unit has been closed down but definitely the most suited to the job.
Forensic evidence is slight, but suspects abound, and we are pulled from likely lead to likely lead convincingly. I might, if I was feeling critical, question how likely some of those leads really were, except that the characters got there first, and the convincing thing about them is how they follow leads that they think will go nowhere, just in case.
The best thing about this one is definitely the characters. Usually in police procedurals, especially ones that switch between POVs, I prefer one detective over the others, but in this book I enjoyed them both equally. They felt like real people, in a way that sets the bar pretty high for the next crime novels I take on. Ferreira is hard as nails, but driven by her gut instinct, while Zigic is gentler, rational and logical to a fault. Between the two of them, they make a really good team.
I think I see more Eva Dolan books in my future.
A doctor is found murdered in his home, days after returning from a holiday. He works in one of the detention centres set up in Tory Britain to create a hostile environment for any immigrants who aren’t of the right sort. On the case are detectives Zigic and Ferreira, smarting after their Hate Crimes unit has been closed down but definitely the most suited to the job.
Forensic evidence is slight, but suspects abound, and we are pulled from likely lead to likely lead convincingly. I might, if I was feeling critical, question how likely some of those leads really were, except that the characters got there first, and the convincing thing about them is how they follow leads that they think will go nowhere, just in case.
The best thing about this one is definitely the characters. Usually in police procedurals, especially ones that switch between POVs, I prefer one detective over the others, but in this book I enjoyed them both equally. They felt like real people, in a way that sets the bar pretty high for the next crime novels I take on. Ferreira is hard as nails, but driven by her gut instinct, while Zigic is gentler, rational and logical to a fault. Between the two of them, they make a really good team.
I think I see more Eva Dolan books in my future.
June 2, 2021
The fifth book in the series featuring Detective Sergeant Ferreira and Detective Inspector Zigic. This is such a good series. The characters are complex and there's a clever relationship between the thoughtful studious Zigic and the impulsive firebrand Ferreira; each of their home lives also going different directions. The married family man Zigic starting to have problems at home; whereas Ferreira is allowing herself to become part of a couple with Zigic's Boss; and they are drawn towards crossing boundaries with the killer of the last book being relased from prison on a technicality and wanting revenge.
there's also a lot of interest in the facility where the victim of the story, Dr Josh Ainsworth, has worked . Long Fleet is a detention centre for women and children waiting to be deported for being illegal immigrants; even though some have been in Britain for most of their lives. The good Dr Ainsworth has blown the cover on poor practices and is then sacked and murdered; but by a disgruntled former work colleague or someone else?
It's gritty. Eva Dolan weaves such good stories. I cant wait for the next in the series
there's also a lot of interest in the facility where the victim of the story, Dr Josh Ainsworth, has worked . Long Fleet is a detention centre for women and children waiting to be deported for being illegal immigrants; even though some have been in Britain for most of their lives. The good Dr Ainsworth has blown the cover on poor practices and is then sacked and murdered; but by a disgruntled former work colleague or someone else?
It's gritty. Eva Dolan weaves such good stories. I cant wait for the next in the series
Read
May 30, 2023I enjoyed the book but as a teacher in public schools for 45 years, I really resented the implication that the detective's children would be safe from bullying and harassment in a private school. This was repeated a number of times. While there may be well publicised fights and incidents in public schools, the same thing can happen just as easily in private schools and when you think of cases of sexual abuse, that was (hopefully not still is) rife in private schools. These places can, of course, expel students who misbehave and also select the students whom they choose to attend their schools in the first place, and when parents pay such huge fees, they are much more likely to pay attention to what is happening in their school.
January 6, 2025
2.5⭐️
pros ✅
- ferreira & zigic are a pretty dynamic duo
- fucking great ending. really tidy, clever and energetic
- probably a pretty accurate depiction of police proceedings? much more believable than steve cavanagh, for example
cons ❌
- lacked oomph, especially when for the most part i’ve only really read uber-gory-fast-paced-high-death-toll(probably unfeasible) steve cavanagh crime books previously. this was much more restrained in comparison
- i felt a bit lost to begin with and also never really felt like i got that deep emotional investment with ferreira & zigic (this is probably because this is book 5 of a series. and i did not know that when i started reading it)
- would be better as tv
- pacing was very slow to begin with
- subplot was more exciting than the main plot
pros ✅
- ferreira & zigic are a pretty dynamic duo
- fucking great ending. really tidy, clever and energetic
- probably a pretty accurate depiction of police proceedings? much more believable than steve cavanagh, for example
cons ❌
- lacked oomph, especially when for the most part i’ve only really read uber-gory-fast-paced-high-death-toll(probably unfeasible) steve cavanagh crime books previously. this was much more restrained in comparison
- i felt a bit lost to begin with and also never really felt like i got that deep emotional investment with ferreira & zigic (this is probably because this is book 5 of a series. and i did not know that when i started reading it)
- would be better as tv
- pacing was very slow to begin with
- subplot was more exciting than the main plot
March 22, 2023
I haven't picked up a Fereira/Zigic book since 2018 and it was great to return to their East Anglian world and remember how brilliant Eva Dolan is combining great crime novels with well crafted plots while also touching on political issues which are on the front pages as I write. Here the story is set around an immigration detention centre and the book is well and truly positioned in the midst of post Brexit paranoia about immigrants and asylum seekers. Here a doctor in the centre is found murdered and the investigation runs parallel with a plot about an apparent miscarriage of justice. Couldn't put it down .
March 29, 2020
Another excellent book from Eva Dolan who is rapidly becoming one of my favourite English authors. Again, set in Peterborough with Zigic and Fereira now back in CID after the disbanding of the Hate Crimes Unit they had previously been in.
Two main strands to the story. The first is the murder of a doctor who had worked at a detention centre for women who were deemed illegal immigrants and awaiting probable deportation.
The second involved the release of a serial rapist who has been released on a technicality, rather than proven innocence. I will just say the social comment particularly on the plight of women arrested out of the blue and placed in a detention centre is particularly well done.
The second story takes less of the book but unfolds very well at the end. Think this is a police procedural I can recommend thoroughly.
Two main strands to the story. The first is the murder of a doctor who had worked at a detention centre for women who were deemed illegal immigrants and awaiting probable deportation.
The second involved the release of a serial rapist who has been released on a technicality, rather than proven innocence. I will just say the social comment particularly on the plight of women arrested out of the blue and placed in a detention centre is particularly well done.
The second story takes less of the book but unfolds very well at the end. Think this is a police procedural I can recommend thoroughly.
October 9, 2020
This took me a long time to get into. It's the first I've read by this author and I didn't warm to Ferreira, and was frustrated by Zigic. But given time, the very good writing and attention to detail drew me in. Things like - it's summer and the professional women are wearing linen shift dresses. Other writers would just have them in suits as usual. There are some brilliant lines too. It's a serious book, with depressingly convincing details (in this case about sexual violence and the asylum system) but overall a very good read.
October 22, 2021
Great addition to the Zigic and Ferreira series with the wider team working on three distinct cases including the brutal murder of Joshua Ainsworth, a well-liked doctor at a detention centre for female immigrants whose paperwork is not up to scratch but is he one of the good guys or has he been abusing his position? In another case, Ferreira is under threat from a vicious killer recently released from prison on a technicality. This rattles along at a great pace and crackles with tension as Zigic and DCI Adams try to ensure that each case is brought to a satisfactory conclusion.
June 18, 2024
Predictable, diluted with unnecessary chapters, and boring. I had such a tough time reading it because of the overall lack of visual description of the scenes where half the time random people jumped into the conversations. The ending was predictable where all of the previous investigation work barely added to the finale, could have skipped the first 2/3 of the book and you will not have missed anything. I soldiered through it hoping for a good ending but to my surprise there was none!
Good luck not doing a DNF if you actually read it.
Good luck not doing a DNF if you actually read it.
January 10, 2021
Grāmatas intriga bija pat ļoti ok, bet - nezinu, kas pie tā vainojams, lasīt bija diezgan garlaicīgi. Iespējams, tāpēc, ka šī ir sērijas DI Zigic and DS Ferreira PIEKTĀ grāmata (piektā, Karl!!!!!!), un, iespējams, tāpēc galveno detektīvu tēli likās kā baltas lapas- acīmredzot pirmajās 4 sērijas grāmatās jau tikuši gana aprakstīti. Nu un, protams, jau mazliet sāk apnikt tā bēgļu un imigrantu glorificēšana. Laikam šī nebūs mana autore:)
October 10, 2021
Fast-paced thriller that kept me guessing until the end, definitely got better as it went along, believable characters and setting, especially with current context of Brexit, felt very current and up to date. The simultaneous storylines kept it refreshing and matched the tone of busy, harangued detectives running to keep up but still sharp. Love a murder mystery and will seek out more of Dolan’s books after this.
May 20, 2022
There are two strong story lines that DI Zigic and DS Ferreira are involved in. The first deals with the unexpected murder of a Dr working at an immigration female detention centre and the other is the release of a serial rapist when there is a question over procedures not being followed correctly. A page turner dealing with update issues of racism, immigration, sexual assault, grooming and coercion.
May 9, 2020
A good read. Excellent plotting and intricate planning. I'm not taking to the two lead detectives that much but the story is very good, the outcome not what I expected and the last half dozen chapters in particular are very good. Lots of social commentary which doesn't spoil the book but makes it interesting and relevant. Will definitely be reading more of her novels.
July 28, 2020
This is another good read in the Eva Dolan series. I struggle to like Eva though but the book is well written and has a good, well planned and interesting plot. It is set in recent time and features Brexit, hate crimes and is a good police procedural with plenty twists. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.
September 27, 2020
A well crafted story of two different challenges - a murder to solve and a criminal to return to prison. I hadn't read any of this series before and I found it really fascinating that the two leads, police with different European backgrounds, face racial/ethnic discrimination. Does that help explain Brexit? Anyway, enough of the politics. It was engaging read.
July 16, 2021
This story follows on from "Watch her disappear" so it is probably a good idea to read that one before reading this. This is a police procedural set in Peterborough and there are several crimes being investigated. There are many twists and turns and a shocking ending. The author also brings in some social commentary. I enjoyed this and will look for the first three books in this series.
March 28, 2020
Enjoyable
Did not think it was a5star the characters are described very well in fact, disappointment a couple are not charged. I'm saying that I will buy more of Eva's books. Hoping the next is a5
Did not think it was a5star the characters are described very well in fact, disappointment a couple are not charged. I'm saying that I will buy more of Eva's books. Hoping the next is a5
August 14, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Between Two Evils! Well written with numerous plot twists. Characters likeable and interesting!
September 3, 2020
מעניין, כתוב היטב, משלב את עניין היחס לפליטים ולמהגרים באירופה
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