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DETECTIVE SERGEANT SUE PALMER IS FIRST ON THE SCENE AFTER BUSINESSMAN KURT BLEUWEN IS MURDERED. SHE FINDS THE BODY WITH A CROSSBOW BOLT THROUGH THE HEART. BLEUWEN WAS A GOOD MAN WITH NO KNOWN ENEMIES… SO WHAT KIND OF PAST COULD HAVE LED TO SUCH A BLOODY DEATH?

WHEN DI HOGARTH ARRIVES THE HUNT IS ON...

The ambitions and desires of those who knew Kurt Bleuwen stay hidden. But not for much longer.

Secrets past and present will be exposed.

Hogarth’s main suspect is Bheka Khumalo – the man who helped Kurt Bleuwen found a social enterprise in the nineties when the new South Africa was just being born.

The search becomes a race against time before the killer flees the country.

But there are other serious problems for Hogarth to contend with.

DC Simmons is playing games set to tear the team apart.

And DI Hogarth receives a phone call which changes everything - a call which could well lead to his own demise. With the pressure on Hogarth must crack the Khumalo case before he is finally cracked…

In a thrilling finale, DI Hogarth and his team must track down a killer while Hogarth faces up to the worst of his demons.

Join DI Hogarth as he walks the final leg of his Poison Path… it’s a narrow path. How will he survive?

Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Ian Rankin, Val McDermid and Ruth Rendell, Helen Durrant, Joy Ellis and LJ Ross. If you love to read gripping detective thrillers with flawed characters and police procedurals with shocking twists and a noir flavour, then the DI Hogarth Darkest series is for you.

Readers have described the Poison Path series as perfect for fans of British crime thrillers, Female detective novels, British crime mysteries, Police Procedurals, Heist thrillers and Noir Thrillers..

The

Southend-on-sea, Just over an hour from London. A tough and densely packed suburban town sandwiched between the sparkling Thames Estuary and a semi-rural hinterland of fields and marshes. A place where wealth and glamour sit cheek-by-jowl with addiction, poverty and crime. When he transferred to the Essex coast, ex-Met Detective Joe Hogarth might have imagined he was signing up for sun, sea and semi-retirement. But the merry hell of Southend might just have him beat. It’s a good thing this DI doesn’t know when to quit…

THE DI HOGARTH POISON PATH

THE POISON PATH

THE HUNTER’S PATH

THE CINDER PATH



ALSO BY SOLOMON CARTER

THE DARKEST LIES

THE SECRET FEAR

LONG TIME DYING SERIES

LUCK AND JUDGMENT

LONDON CALLING

THE FINAL TRICK

HARDER THEY FALL

BETWEEN TWO THIEVES

415 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 10, 2020

93 people are currently reading
25 people want to read

About the author

Solomon Carter

189 books99 followers
Hello folks,
My name is Solomon Carter, and I am the author of the Roberts and Bradley PI crime thriller series, The Last Line international thriller series, the DI Hogarth Darkest series and more. I write mysteries, crime and thriller novels and more besides.

I was born in Southend, Essex and lived there for most of my life apart from eventful student days in South London. But my life in Southend was even more eventful still. I ended up working in a string of jobs including as a jobcentre clerk, a book seller, tutor for youth with low skills and low self esteem, mortgage broker, and latterly manager of a food bank which dealt with all kinds of interesting people facing all kinds of eye-opening, jaw dropping problems. Because of these ear-to-the-ground jobs the majority of my novels are set in Southend. In 2016 I moved to North Cornwall because I liked the idea of never-ending holidays - but I also write almost every single day. My aim is to write action-packed thrillers and page-turning mysteries that readers love and my hope is to get better at what I do with every book across each and every year.

I like to give away lots of free books as part of what I do. If you would like to receive some of these and get the exclusives on offer, than you're invited to join my free readers group at SolomonCarter.net. I won't spam you, just send the occassional email with news on the latest books and forthcoming freebies.

And if you want to see the memes, personal shares and other oddball stuff I do, then you can join me at Facebook via www.facebook.com/solomoncarterwrites and join the fun there too.

What I am good at: telling stories
What I am bad at: dancing, being patient.
What I love: nature, the seaside, adventures
Writers I heartily recommend: Lee Child, Ian Rankin, Henning Mankell, Val McDermid, Harlan Coben, Robert Crais.
Writers I need to read more of: Val McDermid, Ian Rankin, Michael Connelly and others.
Other things I do beside writing: at present I like to keep my running going to balance out the sitting behind a laptop (a habit inspired by Haruki Murakami's 'What I talk about when I talk about running' - a great book).
-I am currently doing surf lessons. When in Rome, as they say...
-Getting out into nature as the weather allows.

I look forward to hearing from you.
Until then I'll keep on writing. Or running. Or surfing. Or chasing my children around the house.

All the very best,
Solomon :)

PS
if you have enjoyed any of my books, I'd be honoured if you could post a review. Those reviews really do help!

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5 stars
343 (68%)
4 stars
128 (25%)
3 stars
20 (4%)
2 stars
6 (1%)
1 star
2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
6,726 reviews5 followers
September 3, 2025
Entertaining mystery listening 😎

This kindle ebook novel is from my Kindle Unlimited account book 10 of 40

Hogarth is called to help with the murder case. A man is murdered by an old friend. The team is not happy with with the case. Then the truth is uncovered leading to three arrests. Hogarth goes on a side adventure leading to more arrests.

I would highly recommend this series and author to readers of British culture mystery novels 😉😯 2025 😮
Profile Image for Barbara Wallace.
57 reviews
June 24, 2020
Poison Path Series

Three new outings for Hogarth and his team which do not disappoint. The stories follow Hogarth's fight against injustice combining new scenarios with his chequered past. Well worth a read.
Profile Image for LitLover.
291 reviews2 followers
July 3, 2020
I LOVED how Mr Carter not only incorporated the beginning of the Pandemic culture, but also mirrored the varying reactions to it ~ at the beginning: it’s not a big deal; it’s elsewhere, not here; it’ll never hit me ~ as readers, we all know better, but . . . . intriguing to read it happening. His use of details is masterful ~ small almost unnoticed bits dropped here and there ~ like hearing the tannoy at the station while Hogarth is on the Cinder Path ~ little bits that make it seem oh, SO REAL and you’re RIGHT THERE.

Hogarth is such a wonderful character ~ solidly good, yet dreadfully flawed ~ like most humans on this planet! He has chosen a thankless job, yet it energizes him, so he is where he is supposed to be. He suffers; he makes mistakes; he miscalculates . . . and he celebrates; loves; has friends. All in all, he's a keeper and I can NOT WAIT for the next Hogarth story arc!
75 reviews1 follower
June 28, 2020
They keep getting better!

Solomon Carter is a master story teller and The Cinder Path is definitely
up to his usual very high standard.
Profile Image for Tammie Jahshan.
138 reviews
August 13, 2020
Great book

Just finished the cinder path and it was great. I think Solomon iOS getting better with every book he writes.
Profile Image for Ann Studd.
43 reviews1 follower
September 12, 2020
I've finally read all 3 DI Hogarth series. I do hope there will be a fourth series, I'm utterly Hooked!
Profile Image for Rose Maureen.
212 reviews5 followers
September 13, 2020
Another great story from this Author Soloman Carter, can't get enough of this Author, his books are brilliant written, so now on to his next book.
300 reviews1 follower
January 30, 2021
Read this very quickly and as with the two prior, thoroughly enjoyed it. As I mentioned in a previous review I did not have a vivid picture in my mind on how the characters looked as there was very little description. This meant you concentrated on the story which was well written. I found all three of these books a cross between a Morse (the painstaking police work) and Line of Duty (speed).
Will look to read the other DI Hogarth books at a later date.
Not sure I have read the series of DI Hogarth in order, but it does not detract from this series.
178 reviews3 followers
June 22, 2020
Once again Solomon has produced a Superb set of stories around DI Hogarth, Sue Palmer and the rest of his team. Bringing them all to life and the way he writes the characters almost feel like friends. Believe me when I say that once you pick up the first book you can't outfit down, then you can hardly wait for the next in the Series. Congratulations Solomon on a First Class Books!
Profile Image for Mrs M Pokorowicz.
10 reviews1 follower
July 2, 2020
Don't start if you want an early night!

I think everything I could say is in my headline. A thoroughly enjoyable read which I was disappointed to finish,it definitely left me wanting more. Highly recommended.
6 reviews
November 1, 2020
Hogarth does it again

Captivating and thrilling always kept on the edge wondering who where and how the crimes have been committed on suspense to the very end would recommend to anyone who loves detective like Hogarth
402 reviews3 followers
November 3, 2020
Another 5 star read

These really are excellent stories that are really well written. From the start the action happens and keeps the reader moving along at a rapid pace. The characters started out as believable and have kept evolving, with every story.
Profile Image for Val.
702 reviews
August 12, 2022
An unusual death involving a mysterious South African has the team chasing around, but is everything really as it seems? Meanwhile Hogarth received bad news and his side investigation into Hartigan et al takes an unexpected twist.
126 reviews
July 13, 2020
Fantastic

A brilliant series, would love to read more about Hogarth and gang. A great read I couldn't put it down
5 reviews
August 26, 2020
Compelling Read

I would recommend this book & the series I am going to start the next ones very soon hopefully they will be as good
47 reviews
September 7, 2020
Better than ever

As always a very good read the author gets better can't wait for more of the same and I highly recommend the author
226 reviews1 follower
July 19, 2021
Brilliant book it certainly had me guessing who did😀👍
86 reviews
March 4, 2022
The Cinder Path

Another great book Solomon, kept me wondering. From start to finish.I look forward to reading the next episode of is it already out there ?
Profile Image for Allan Pendlebury.
280 reviews2 followers
November 5, 2023
Another good one. So Solomon when are we going to see Hogarth and Palmer hook up. That poor girl is suffering.
3 reviews
September 2, 2025
the cinder path

As always Solomon Carter at it’s best. DI Hogarth series are brilliant, easy reads & good plots. I’ve already downloaded my next read,
2 reviews
August 22, 2020
What a fabulous read this was - Soloman Carter writes some really good stories - would highly recommend,
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews

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