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Dr. Callie Hughes #2
Body Heat
Medical crime fiction by Candy Denman, Britain’s answer to Patricia Cornwell
When police doctor Callie Hughes is called to a crime scene, pronouncing death isn’t difficult. More difficult will be determining the age and sex of the victim. The charred body found inside a burned-out car is so badly damaged, it will be a challenge for forensics to identify.
The question facing the police will be whether this was an unfortunate accident or foul play. From an initial examination of the scene, Dr Hughes has formed her own conclusions. The car was parked in such a way as to make exit difficult, and the position of the body indicated the victim struggled to escape.
As further evidence emerges, the investigating detectives agree with her hunch that it is murder. And when another death occurs in similar circumstances, she becomes convinced they are dealing with a serial killer.
Certain characteristics of the crime bear the hallmarks of a known arsonist. Yet Hughes becomes further embroiled in the case when she is asked to act as a responsible adult for the suspect, a juvenile with a history of mental illness.
But when the heavy-handed tactics of the police begin to grate with her, she decides to do some investigating of her own. Will her curiosity get the better of her and put her at risk from the very person she hopes to protect?
BODY HEAT is the second murder mystery to feature Dr Callie Hughes. It can be enjoyed entirely as a standalone but readers may also enjoy the first book, DEAD PRETTY. It will appeal to fans of forensic crime fiction like Kendra Elliot’s Bone Secrets series, and anyone who likes a good mystery to solve.
When police doctor Callie Hughes is called to a crime scene, pronouncing death isn’t difficult. More difficult will be determining the age and sex of the victim. The charred body found inside a burned-out car is so badly damaged, it will be a challenge for forensics to identify.
The question facing the police will be whether this was an unfortunate accident or foul play. From an initial examination of the scene, Dr Hughes has formed her own conclusions. The car was parked in such a way as to make exit difficult, and the position of the body indicated the victim struggled to escape.
As further evidence emerges, the investigating detectives agree with her hunch that it is murder. And when another death occurs in similar circumstances, she becomes convinced they are dealing with a serial killer.
Certain characteristics of the crime bear the hallmarks of a known arsonist. Yet Hughes becomes further embroiled in the case when she is asked to act as a responsible adult for the suspect, a juvenile with a history of mental illness.
But when the heavy-handed tactics of the police begin to grate with her, she decides to do some investigating of her own. Will her curiosity get the better of her and put her at risk from the very person she hopes to protect?
BODY HEAT is the second murder mystery to feature Dr Callie Hughes. It can be enjoyed entirely as a standalone but readers may also enjoy the first book, DEAD PRETTY. It will appeal to fans of forensic crime fiction like Kendra Elliot’s Bone Secrets series, and anyone who likes a good mystery to solve.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 1, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
June 9, 2018
Body Heat is the second book in the Jocasta Hughes series, which I didn’t realise but it doesn’t matter as I had no problem at all getting immersed and following along.
Dr Jocasta Hughes, or Jo, is a part-time GP and part-time Forensic Consultant for the Hastings police department. This includes confirming a person is dead, for instance, or making sure someone held in a police cell is fit to be interviewed. I took to Jo right away. She’s an intelligent and determined woman, who’s always looking out for the people around her.
The action starts pretty much on the first page which is one sure-fire way to hook your readers from the get-go. When the body of a woman is found burned to death in an abandoned car, Dr Hughes is called out to the scene to confirm the woman is indeed dead. Little does she know this victim will not be the last one as the killer is most definitely on a mission.
During the investigation, one suspect is a young man who clearly has a learning disability. It was this part of the story that really grabbed me. The relentlessness of detectives as they go out of their way to get a confession made for quite an emotional read at times. This is also where Jo gets involved, as an appropriate adult and making sure her patient is as well as he can be.
Having the main character be a doctor and not an investigator is both incredibly refreshing and also slightly frustrating as I felt I was increasingly left out of the excitement of a murder case since Jo is rather on the fringes of it all. Sure, she has her sources and people willing to partake in a bit of gossip but it’s a bit different from being right there in the middle of the action of an investigation.
As for the killer, I was convinced I had it all figured out quite early on. I was wrong. Again. I’d make a horrible detective. It wasn’t until the final pages that the pieces of the puzzle came together. This is one seriously chilling killer and his choice of murder is quite horrendous.
Body Heat is a gripping and compelling serial killer mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed the balance between a murder investigation, Jo’s work at the GP surgery and her personal life including her parents, her best friend and the “will-they, won’t-they” relationship with Steve Miller. I feel this would make quite a fabulous tv series, as it goes. It was a delight meeting the entire cast of characters, even Jeffries, and I look forward to reading more about them in future. Might be a while until I have me some crispy bacon again, though.
Dr Jocasta Hughes, or Jo, is a part-time GP and part-time Forensic Consultant for the Hastings police department. This includes confirming a person is dead, for instance, or making sure someone held in a police cell is fit to be interviewed. I took to Jo right away. She’s an intelligent and determined woman, who’s always looking out for the people around her.
The action starts pretty much on the first page which is one sure-fire way to hook your readers from the get-go. When the body of a woman is found burned to death in an abandoned car, Dr Hughes is called out to the scene to confirm the woman is indeed dead. Little does she know this victim will not be the last one as the killer is most definitely on a mission.
During the investigation, one suspect is a young man who clearly has a learning disability. It was this part of the story that really grabbed me. The relentlessness of detectives as they go out of their way to get a confession made for quite an emotional read at times. This is also where Jo gets involved, as an appropriate adult and making sure her patient is as well as he can be.
Having the main character be a doctor and not an investigator is both incredibly refreshing and also slightly frustrating as I felt I was increasingly left out of the excitement of a murder case since Jo is rather on the fringes of it all. Sure, she has her sources and people willing to partake in a bit of gossip but it’s a bit different from being right there in the middle of the action of an investigation.
As for the killer, I was convinced I had it all figured out quite early on. I was wrong. Again. I’d make a horrible detective. It wasn’t until the final pages that the pieces of the puzzle came together. This is one seriously chilling killer and his choice of murder is quite horrendous.
Body Heat is a gripping and compelling serial killer mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed the balance between a murder investigation, Jo’s work at the GP surgery and her personal life including her parents, her best friend and the “will-they, won’t-they” relationship with Steve Miller. I feel this would make quite a fabulous tv series, as it goes. It was a delight meeting the entire cast of characters, even Jeffries, and I look forward to reading more about them in future. Might be a while until I have me some crispy bacon again, though.
June 7, 2018
What an opening! I was greeted with the horrific start of a serial killer’s spree. The killer’s MO is a ghastly and brutal one. And this totally sets the scene for what is to come!
And then we meet Jocasta (Jo to everyone bar her mum) who is the police doctor as well as a full time GP. I really liked Jo as a character. She’s a down to earth woman who works hard, tenacious but caring. She’s got her family issues but who doesn’t! It was very different having a GP-cum-police doctor as the main character. The author gave the book have a different perspective of investigation and the police doctor’s role is something that is often brushed over. The book showed a little of the unglamorous side of being a doctor – the paperwork, the weekend working, the surgery politics. And there is the problem patients which Jo has an interesting time with.
I loved the relationships that the author had crafted for Jo. Her friendship with Kate is the ideal girlie bestie relationship, sharing the day over a drink after work, nights in with a take-away. Oh the tension between Jo and Miller – Ms Denman has that chemistry perfect!! I was desperate to slap Jeffries around the face for his little digs and sarcastic comments – a character you love to hate!
I had my suspicions on two suspects but I wasn’t convinced I was right or wrong until the end! I’m not going to tell you whether I was right or wrong…you’ll have to read Body Heat yourself and decide who you think it is….
Candy Denman, you’ve got a new fan in me!!
And then we meet Jocasta (Jo to everyone bar her mum) who is the police doctor as well as a full time GP. I really liked Jo as a character. She’s a down to earth woman who works hard, tenacious but caring. She’s got her family issues but who doesn’t! It was very different having a GP-cum-police doctor as the main character. The author gave the book have a different perspective of investigation and the police doctor’s role is something that is often brushed over. The book showed a little of the unglamorous side of being a doctor – the paperwork, the weekend working, the surgery politics. And there is the problem patients which Jo has an interesting time with.
I loved the relationships that the author had crafted for Jo. Her friendship with Kate is the ideal girlie bestie relationship, sharing the day over a drink after work, nights in with a take-away. Oh the tension between Jo and Miller – Ms Denman has that chemistry perfect!! I was desperate to slap Jeffries around the face for his little digs and sarcastic comments – a character you love to hate!
I had my suspicions on two suspects but I wasn’t convinced I was right or wrong until the end! I’m not going to tell you whether I was right or wrong…you’ll have to read Body Heat yourself and decide who you think it is….
Candy Denman, you’ve got a new fan in me!!
July 2, 2018
I picked up Body Heat when I saw it was set in my adored Hastings - hoping GP / police doctor Jo Hughes would look after me through a story way out of my usual genre. She did.
The book was a fascinating and well researched look into the life of a GP as well as a Forensic Medical Practitioner working with the police. Most importantly for me, Jo’s caring (but daring) nature was a foil to the gruesome car fire murders. I was particularly moved by her concern for a lad with learning difficulties who seemed to be being framed, and was routing for an upturn in her love life!
Meanwhile, the narrow twittens, lively old pubs and nearby cliff walks and countryside of Hastings were a perfect setting for this story - and I look forward to joining Jo there again for the next in the series.
The book was a fascinating and well researched look into the life of a GP as well as a Forensic Medical Practitioner working with the police. Most importantly for me, Jo’s caring (but daring) nature was a foil to the gruesome car fire murders. I was particularly moved by her concern for a lad with learning difficulties who seemed to be being framed, and was routing for an upturn in her love life!
Meanwhile, the narrow twittens, lively old pubs and nearby cliff walks and countryside of Hastings were a perfect setting for this story - and I look forward to joining Jo there again for the next in the series.
June 13, 2018
Body Heat definitely wasn’t what I was expecting but that isn’t a negative – just that it is a different type of crime read than I am used to. The pace is slower but still draws the reader into Dr. Jo Hughes’ life and her fascination with helping the police out in more than just her capacity as Forensic
Medical Practitioner which results in her getting a little bit carried away at times.
This is actually the second book in this series however, if like me you’ve not read Dead Pretty this doesn’t hamper the enjoyment Body Heat as it is easily read as a standalone and any references to the last book are covered to enough detail to bring new readers up to speed.
Body Heat opens with the brutal death of a young woman at the hands of an arsonist which makes for a very disturbing scene for Jo to complete the formality of pronouncing the victim as dead. Jo partners her role with the police alongside her part time position as GP at the local surgery – when the suspicion points to one of Jo’s patients with a history of arson, things start to get a bit messy for her and lines start to blur.
What I really enjoyed about this book was seeing the investigation from a different point of view and also, to see how the police doctor was brought in only at certain points and therefore her detail about the investigation is hazy and strictly on a need to know basis. What is a good by-product of this approach is that the reader almost becomes the investigator, pointing together the information that Jo is gleaning from people to try and guess who the killer is.
The little snippets from the killers perspective were a brilliant addition dotted throughout the book. The killer is certainly a chilling, disturbing and nasty piece of work.
Alongside the investigation and Jo’s role as a local GP, the author builds a brilliant network around Jo so we see different sides of her through her interactions with other characters. I thoroughly enjoyed the friendship that she has with Kate and certainly intrigued by the obvious chemistry between Jo and DI Miller. It was also interesting to see Jo’s working relationship with colleagues at the surgery, most of which are desperate for Jo to leave her role with the police and take up a partnership full time – however Jo isn’t ready for that level of commitment and is too intrigued by the police work to walk away.
I enjoyed this read and the slower pace of narrative – although this certainly ramps up towards the end into a brilliant conclusion!
Medical Practitioner which results in her getting a little bit carried away at times.
This is actually the second book in this series however, if like me you’ve not read Dead Pretty this doesn’t hamper the enjoyment Body Heat as it is easily read as a standalone and any references to the last book are covered to enough detail to bring new readers up to speed.
Body Heat opens with the brutal death of a young woman at the hands of an arsonist which makes for a very disturbing scene for Jo to complete the formality of pronouncing the victim as dead. Jo partners her role with the police alongside her part time position as GP at the local surgery – when the suspicion points to one of Jo’s patients with a history of arson, things start to get a bit messy for her and lines start to blur.
What I really enjoyed about this book was seeing the investigation from a different point of view and also, to see how the police doctor was brought in only at certain points and therefore her detail about the investigation is hazy and strictly on a need to know basis. What is a good by-product of this approach is that the reader almost becomes the investigator, pointing together the information that Jo is gleaning from people to try and guess who the killer is.
The little snippets from the killers perspective were a brilliant addition dotted throughout the book. The killer is certainly a chilling, disturbing and nasty piece of work.
Alongside the investigation and Jo’s role as a local GP, the author builds a brilliant network around Jo so we see different sides of her through her interactions with other characters. I thoroughly enjoyed the friendship that she has with Kate and certainly intrigued by the obvious chemistry between Jo and DI Miller. It was also interesting to see Jo’s working relationship with colleagues at the surgery, most of which are desperate for Jo to leave her role with the police and take up a partnership full time – however Jo isn’t ready for that level of commitment and is too intrigued by the police work to walk away.
I enjoyed this read and the slower pace of narrative – although this certainly ramps up towards the end into a brilliant conclusion!
November 26, 2018
Well! What a great start to what promises to be a fascinating and, I'm guessing, long running, series.
Having now read both of the first books, I can safely say that, as with most books of this genre, both Dead Pretty and, its sequel, Body Heat, CAN be read as stand-alone novels as each deals with its own separate case. However, to get the best out of them, I'd strongly suggest you begin at the beginning as both stories are much more than a crime novel.
As with many crime stories that feature amateur sleuths a certain amount of suspending your disbelief is needed as Jocasta (AKA Jo) not only carries out her own investigations but is paramount in actually solving the cases in Hastings, a small fishing village, that, not unlike Cabot Cove (home of Jessica Fletcher; Murder, She Wrote), seemingly has one of the highest murder ratios of anywhere in America. That said ...
Jo's life; Forensic Medical Practitioner, General Practitioner, daughter and friend is perfectly depicted ...
Jo's relationship with her family (her mother and father make for great secondary characters; outside of the murders it is her rapport with them that most interested me) and the author's social commentary (much of it about the state of the health service) making for great sub-plots. It's the will-they-won't-they relationship between Jo and DI Miller that I could well do without but then that's me.
Full of chills (dramatically added to by the author giving the murderer their own voice from time to time, {sigh} if only there had been a tad more of these insights) and thrills as the author piles red herring upon red herring in novels that, though (on more than one occasion as it turns out) you are absolutely/ positively/without a shadow of a doubt convinced you know whodunit, actually keep you doubting right up until the end. ...
As for the characters? Hmm! A fan of good, feisty female characters. Whilst without a doubt Jo is not without courage (some if it ill-advised but nevertheless courageous), its just I'm afraid I once again found myself disappointed that so much more was made of her and her fellow female characters physical (or lack of them) attributes than there were the male characters.
A small gripe in what were otherwise hugely compelling reads that kept me gripped from beginning to end.
Copyright ... Tracy Terry @ Pen and Paper
Disclaimer ... Read and reviewed on behalf of the author, no financial compensation was asked for nor given
Having now read both of the first books, I can safely say that, as with most books of this genre, both Dead Pretty and, its sequel, Body Heat, CAN be read as stand-alone novels as each deals with its own separate case. However, to get the best out of them, I'd strongly suggest you begin at the beginning as both stories are much more than a crime novel.
As with many crime stories that feature amateur sleuths a certain amount of suspending your disbelief is needed as Jocasta (AKA Jo) not only carries out her own investigations but is paramount in actually solving the cases in Hastings, a small fishing village, that, not unlike Cabot Cove (home of Jessica Fletcher; Murder, She Wrote), seemingly has one of the highest murder ratios of anywhere in America. That said ...
Jo's life; Forensic Medical Practitioner, General Practitioner, daughter and friend is perfectly depicted ...
Jo's relationship with her family (her mother and father make for great secondary characters; outside of the murders it is her rapport with them that most interested me) and the author's social commentary (much of it about the state of the health service) making for great sub-plots. It's the will-they-won't-they relationship between Jo and DI Miller that I could well do without but then that's me.
Full of chills (dramatically added to by the author giving the murderer their own voice from time to time, {sigh} if only there had been a tad more of these insights) and thrills as the author piles red herring upon red herring in novels that, though (on more than one occasion as it turns out) you are absolutely/ positively/without a shadow of a doubt convinced you know whodunit, actually keep you doubting right up until the end. ...
As for the characters? Hmm! A fan of good, feisty female characters. Whilst without a doubt Jo is not without courage (some if it ill-advised but nevertheless courageous), its just I'm afraid I once again found myself disappointed that so much more was made of her and her fellow female characters physical (or lack of them) attributes than there were the male characters.
A small gripe in what were otherwise hugely compelling reads that kept me gripped from beginning to end.
Copyright ... Tracy Terry @ Pen and Paper
Disclaimer ... Read and reviewed on behalf of the author, no financial compensation was asked for nor given
May 25, 2020
I'm so excited to find new authors, especially when I find their work so enjoyable. I just finished this second book by Candy Denman and am already longing for more. Her main character, Dr. Callie Hughes, divides her time between her general practice and the police department. She's called in whenever "life's extinct" or rather there's a dead body on the scene. She likes being involved in her police work and doing her own type of investigation to find out what happened to the deceased. This doesn't always set well with the people in charge. And she tends to put herself in harm's way.
If you like a bit of crime drama with a murder mystery involved then I suggest you check out this series. I breezed through it in no time and hated to see it come to an end.
If you like a bit of crime drama with a murder mystery involved then I suggest you check out this series. I breezed through it in no time and hated to see it come to an end.
June 4, 2018
Apparently Body Heat is the second book in this series but I didn’t feel I missed anything by jumping in at number two. In fact I enjoyed Body Heat so much I will go back to read Dead Pretty just because I can and to compare them both and see if it’s as good.
I’m always a sucker for a crime story and this one started as it meant to go on. Right from the very first sentence I was hooked and due to the nature of the crimes knew I was going to be turning the pages at a rate of knots until I came to the conclusion. This was a ‘one sitting’ book. I love it when a story has so much going on that it’s difficult to find a suitable place to stop for a breath, each clue brings us nearer to finding the criminal.
I’m always intrigued by arson, the reason behind it, the mentality of anyone doing it, so this was a thrill ride for me. There are some gruesome scenes that confront Jo in her role as forensics practitioner. I particularly like the fact she works part time in that role and the rest of her talent is as a GP.
This book is set in Hastings which brings a real life, almost dreary, mundane feel to it. Just an every day town which is bought to the forefront by the discovery of charred remains. It gives an inner grimness to the book while Jo’s relationship with DI Miller brings a bit of light relief or frustration depending on how you look at it!
All in all the characters were entertaining and certainly kept my attention until the end, which fraught with action bought a satisfactory finish but leaves it open for more adventures with Jo I believe.
I will certainly be happy to read any other books by this author, her writing is descriptive and easy to read, she doesn’t hold back on any gruesome issues and certainly has done her research in all things gritty and demeaning. With a kick-ass heroine like Jo there is ample opportunity to explore the darkside.
My thanks to the author, publisher and #RandomThingsTours for my copy which I read and reviewed voluntarily. I found out after I read Body Heat that Candy is also a TV script writer of programmes such as The Bill, Heartbeat and Doctors, some of my favourite programmes so it’s no surprise I liked her style.
I’m always a sucker for a crime story and this one started as it meant to go on. Right from the very first sentence I was hooked and due to the nature of the crimes knew I was going to be turning the pages at a rate of knots until I came to the conclusion. This was a ‘one sitting’ book. I love it when a story has so much going on that it’s difficult to find a suitable place to stop for a breath, each clue brings us nearer to finding the criminal.
I’m always intrigued by arson, the reason behind it, the mentality of anyone doing it, so this was a thrill ride for me. There are some gruesome scenes that confront Jo in her role as forensics practitioner. I particularly like the fact she works part time in that role and the rest of her talent is as a GP.
This book is set in Hastings which brings a real life, almost dreary, mundane feel to it. Just an every day town which is bought to the forefront by the discovery of charred remains. It gives an inner grimness to the book while Jo’s relationship with DI Miller brings a bit of light relief or frustration depending on how you look at it!
All in all the characters were entertaining and certainly kept my attention until the end, which fraught with action bought a satisfactory finish but leaves it open for more adventures with Jo I believe.
I will certainly be happy to read any other books by this author, her writing is descriptive and easy to read, she doesn’t hold back on any gruesome issues and certainly has done her research in all things gritty and demeaning. With a kick-ass heroine like Jo there is ample opportunity to explore the darkside.
My thanks to the author, publisher and #RandomThingsTours for my copy which I read and reviewed voluntarily. I found out after I read Body Heat that Candy is also a TV script writer of programmes such as The Bill, Heartbeat and Doctors, some of my favourite programmes so it’s no surprise I liked her style.
February 20, 2022
This has taken me some days to get through and I found myself a tad bored here and there, but I do like the characters so stuck it out. There are too many mistakes as well, and if I have to keep on highlighting those it wears me down, too. I will stick with this series but if number 3 isn't worth more than 3* I may give it up.
Some nasty murders in this one.....the perpetrator is a proper nasty piece of work and killing for the aged old problem.....he has a hatred of "fallen women" apparently !! So nothing too new there but his preferred method of finishing them off is a nasty one. I also wonder at the mentalists walking our streets and living among us, who only need to not take their meds and commit crimes, because we feel we shouldn't lock them up nowadays. I think I'd prefer they were !! She made a very pertinent point, too, about people not being able to just sit these days, in that they just don't have that capability any longer, so need to always be fiddling about with their phones instead.....especially youngsters, I think....they might have to hold a conversation if you took their phones off them, and let's face it, most have none of those skills now.
A few times she misses words from sentences, writes a horrific crime not an, lost apostrophes here and there, then a couple of sentences could've done with a semicolon and paused for breath a bit !! Beside driver's door lost the, back lit needed a hyphen, rich tea needed capitalising and so does coke and Kosher doesn't need to be !! She also wrote final his and not his final. So it's very scrappy and it is tiresome to read like this. She needs to invest in a good proofreader in future.
There were some funny moments, one with a pug and Callie's thoughts on dogging particularly tickled me.
She does mention something about her mother being at Callie's home......and I've no idea why as there had been nothing said at all about her mother visiting till then nor after this mention !! So that was needlessly baffling to me and had me flicking back to see if I'd maybe missed something. I hadn't.....
So I'll try the next one but not in any great rush, I'm afraid.
Some nasty murders in this one.....the perpetrator is a proper nasty piece of work and killing for the aged old problem.....he has a hatred of "fallen women" apparently !! So nothing too new there but his preferred method of finishing them off is a nasty one. I also wonder at the mentalists walking our streets and living among us, who only need to not take their meds and commit crimes, because we feel we shouldn't lock them up nowadays. I think I'd prefer they were !! She made a very pertinent point, too, about people not being able to just sit these days, in that they just don't have that capability any longer, so need to always be fiddling about with their phones instead.....especially youngsters, I think....they might have to hold a conversation if you took their phones off them, and let's face it, most have none of those skills now.
A few times she misses words from sentences, writes a horrific crime not an, lost apostrophes here and there, then a couple of sentences could've done with a semicolon and paused for breath a bit !! Beside driver's door lost the, back lit needed a hyphen, rich tea needed capitalising and so does coke and Kosher doesn't need to be !! She also wrote final his and not his final. So it's very scrappy and it is tiresome to read like this. She needs to invest in a good proofreader in future.
There were some funny moments, one with a pug and Callie's thoughts on dogging particularly tickled me.
She does mention something about her mother being at Callie's home......and I've no idea why as there had been nothing said at all about her mother visiting till then nor after this mention !! So that was needlessly baffling to me and had me flicking back to see if I'd maybe missed something. I hadn't.....
So I'll try the next one but not in any great rush, I'm afraid.
September 24, 2020
More Cold Than More Heat!
Candy Denman has touched based upon a good subject of how one can indulge in crime due to disturbed personal life. However, the narration is seldom gripping as expected of a thriller.
Summary of the story: Dr. Hughes is a GP in a hospital plus associated with Police Department to help them with forensic analysis and medical-testing the alleged before they are interviewed. A serial killer is on a prowl torching women inside cars. Dr. Hughes takes upon herself to investigate the killings and in due course she stumbles upon certain facts that are alarming.
Will she be able to get hold of the killer?
Read the novel to know the answer.
Candy Denman has touched based upon a good subject of how one can indulge in crime due to disturbed personal life. However, the narration is seldom gripping as expected of a thriller.
Summary of the story: Dr. Hughes is a GP in a hospital plus associated with Police Department to help them with forensic analysis and medical-testing the alleged before they are interviewed. A serial killer is on a prowl torching women inside cars. Dr. Hughes takes upon herself to investigate the killings and in due course she stumbles upon certain facts that are alarming.
Will she be able to get hold of the killer?
Read the novel to know the answer.
September 24, 2021
I normally favor books that are set in the U.S. but I have to admit that this series has me hooked. Yes I get stumped on a few words that I'm not familiar with but the characters and the plot are so interesting and the story is so well written that I've found myself hooked on the adventures of Dr. Hughes. (I am still hoping for some romance too!) This particular story was very interesting and well thought out. The ending came together very well and the final paragraphs were so relatable! Yes, I've bought the next in the series.
October 2, 2022
Cheaters feel the heat in this novel. Someone is torching cars with women trapped inside. Part time police consultant and doctor Callie is convinced the police are wrong in targeting her patient. But conducting her own investigation puts her in the line of fire.
This is an okay read. The mystery is decent. The main drawback is Callie. She is annoying, petulant and immature. She unquestionably should have re used herself from representing the patient at the police interviews. Too much about what she eats and drinks.
This is an okay read. The mystery is decent. The main drawback is Callie. She is annoying, petulant and immature. She unquestionably should have re used herself from representing the patient at the police interviews. Too much about what she eats and drinks.
June 12, 2024
The doctor that can't let go
Enjoyed this Doctor Callie Hughes tale. Someone is murdering adulterous women, and Callie is attending the scene as the Police Surgeon to certify death. Something sparks Callie's interest, and she needs to find out what has caused her reaction and why. Pretty soon, she is involved in website dating with her friend Kate chasing a mysterious man. The story takes us through Callie and Kate's life stories along with Callie's relationship with the Police officers she works with. A good read and enjoyable.
Enjoyed this Doctor Callie Hughes tale. Someone is murdering adulterous women, and Callie is attending the scene as the Police Surgeon to certify death. Something sparks Callie's interest, and she needs to find out what has caused her reaction and why. Pretty soon, she is involved in website dating with her friend Kate chasing a mysterious man. The story takes us through Callie and Kate's life stories along with Callie's relationship with the Police officers she works with. A good read and enjoyable.
September 14, 2020
Really very good
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It has great characters, the authour has a good descriptive way with words that took me to all the places easily. It has a great plot, full of twists and turns and danger and a few times I thought I knew who it was only to be wrong again! Very well written. Only 4 stars because of the rare use of crude language. Otherwise a brilliant read.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It has great characters, the authour has a good descriptive way with words that took me to all the places easily. It has a great plot, full of twists and turns and danger and a few times I thought I knew who it was only to be wrong again! Very well written. Only 4 stars because of the rare use of crude language. Otherwise a brilliant read.
March 21, 2022
A really good read. I was a tad worried when reading the first chapter that the story could become quite gory but actually Candy Denman had done a great job in avoiding doing this. The mystery of the arsonist kept me guessing almost to the end. Like the previous book before it, Body Heat was an easy read and I would happily recommend to fellow readers. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
November 25, 2018
Jo is still trying to do the two jobs. Call for a young girl of a drug overdose and had died. A woman who didn’t want medical help.A husband who took his anger out on Jo’s car. Which was a total write off, and she had to press charges for the insurance to pay. Ride home, would been nice if more, but he was married. So is the life of Jo, another case solved, which was a good one.
September 20, 2020
Intriguingly good read
Dr Callie Hughes is a GP but also a police doctor. She is a strong character who fights for her patient when a murder is committed and he is being questioned. The characters are wonderfully created to a standard which gives questions as to the guilty party.
Dr Callie Hughes is a GP but also a police doctor. She is a strong character who fights for her patient when a murder is committed and he is being questioned. The characters are wonderfully created to a standard which gives questions as to the guilty party.
July 27, 2021
2 ½ *stars REALLY
CALLIE IS SO NICE TO THE POINT OF BEING ANNOYING, I WAS AT 34% AND STILL TRYING TO LIKE HER. BUMMER! SHE IS UNBELIEVALBLE, HER IDEAS FOR SOLVING CRIMES HAD ME SMH AND SAYING REALLY? WHERE HAS SHE BEEN LIVING UNDER A ROCK, KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT REAL LIFE. CALLIE MAY BE BOOK SMART BUT SHE KNOWS NADA ABOUT HOW THE REAL WORLD AND PEOPLE FUNCTION. ;0
CALLIE IS SO NICE TO THE POINT OF BEING ANNOYING, I WAS AT 34% AND STILL TRYING TO LIKE HER. BUMMER! SHE IS UNBELIEVALBLE, HER IDEAS FOR SOLVING CRIMES HAD ME SMH AND SAYING REALLY? WHERE HAS SHE BEEN LIVING UNDER A ROCK, KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT REAL LIFE. CALLIE MAY BE BOOK SMART BUT SHE KNOWS NADA ABOUT HOW THE REAL WORLD AND PEOPLE FUNCTION. ;0
September 5, 2022
The crimes in this are very graphic and like in the first book in the series doesn't fit the light tone of the rest of the narrative.
However Dr Hughes in this still investigates the murders on her own initiative and discover things the most inept police force in southern England can't.
I still found it a decent read that didn't take much brain power. Onto the third book eventually.
However Dr Hughes in this still investigates the murders on her own initiative and discover things the most inept police force in southern England can't.
I still found it a decent read that didn't take much brain power. Onto the third book eventually.
November 9, 2022
Enjoyable
It was nice to read a book where the main female character was actually a nice person. I also liked the other characters as well. The only downside was that I knew who the killer was before the author disclosed who it was, albeit, fairly late in the book. I would recommend.
It was nice to read a book where the main female character was actually a nice person. I also liked the other characters as well. The only downside was that I knew who the killer was before the author disclosed who it was, albeit, fairly late in the book. I would recommend.
May 2, 2020
Another highly enjoyable caper involving themes of arson, victimisation, poor police procedure and miscarriages of justice. In all though, a good plot and a really guessing game about who did it. Highly recommend.
June 2, 2020
Another great story
Another great story by Candy featuring Doctor Hughes who seems to have a knack of getting herself involved in these cases. It is enjoyable reading a series where the main character is a doctor instead of a detective. More please.
Another great story by Candy featuring Doctor Hughes who seems to have a knack of getting herself involved in these cases. It is enjoyable reading a series where the main character is a doctor instead of a detective. More please.
October 4, 2020
This was an interesting mystery. A gruesome way to kill women and why is what everyone is trying to find out. It was an easy fast read. I have to admit I didn't like the way Callie and Miller ended things, but maybe they will get together in the next book.
October 21, 2020
This crime mystery held my interest to the end and I had a few clues who was the murderer who Dr. Callie Hughes was looking for in the deaths of women being burned in trapped cars. If you like a who done it, this is a good one.
October 28, 2020
Good mystery!
This book held my attention early on. This is the first Dr. Callie Hughes mystery that I've read, and I've become a Candy Denman fan. I look forward to reading more Dr. Hughes mysteries and highly recommend this book to other police procedural readers.
This book held my attention early on. This is the first Dr. Callie Hughes mystery that I've read, and I've become a Candy Denman fan. I look forward to reading more Dr. Hughes mysteries and highly recommend this book to other police procedural readers.
January 28, 2021
Self righteous indignation
Interesting characters makes reader feel part of the mystery. Main character does good bringing all parts together. Reader should uncover murderer before police do but author puts some twists in. Enjoyable read even though pretty predictable ending.
Interesting characters makes reader feel part of the mystery. Main character does good bringing all parts together. Reader should uncover murderer before police do but author puts some twists in. Enjoyable read even though pretty predictable ending.
February 28, 2021
Over long
Poorly written, predictable plot, unbelievable characters, what more could you ask for in a free' book ? ? ?
The author would do well to research police and GP practise procedures.
Poorly written, predictable plot, unbelievable characters, what more could you ask for in a free' book ? ? ?
The author would do well to research police and GP practise procedures.
May 6, 2023
An interesting fiery story
An unusual story. Revenge because of being betray is sad. A doctor decided to encourage women on a date to kill them by burning them in his mind all women needs to pay for what his wife did to him. All in all not a bad story.
An unusual story. Revenge because of being betray is sad. A doctor decided to encourage women on a date to kill them by burning them in his mind all women needs to pay for what his wife did to him. All in all not a bad story.
November 20, 2023
Just ok
Managed to finish the book but it really didn't hold my interest . it lack humor and the main character wasn't a very interesting person. No planning to read a sequel by this author.
Managed to finish the book but it really didn't hold my interest . it lack humor and the main character wasn't a very interesting person. No planning to read a sequel by this author.
December 29, 2023
Deadly Sleep
A very well written thriller with lots of red herrings. Enough back story to make it interesting. Clearly a good author to keep the interest up without going into depth.
A very well written thriller with lots of red herrings. Enough back story to make it interesting. Clearly a good author to keep the interest up without going into depth.
May 3, 2020
Great first couple of pages. Pity the rest was so POOR.
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