What do you think?
Rate this book
DI Gardener #4
Impression
A series of murders threatens to side-line Yorkshire Police’s search for a missing girl
Sally Summerby charges into a Leeds police station, utterly distraught. Her five-year-old daughter has gone missing, presumably abducted. Yet despite mobilising all of their resources, the police can find no sign of the child.
DI Stewart Gardener gets wind of the case when investigating the murder of a woman in her rented suburban house. She has been pinned to the floor with a bayonet. Yet under her body is a photo of the child.
The mother knows nothing of this woman. And she is clearly shocked when it is established the latter is a sex worker. But as several weeks have passed since the abduction, she becomes more and more desperate.
DI Gardener and his trusty sergeant Sean Reilly are also getting frustrated. A local businessman linked to the victim’s property has been poisoned. And to add to the detectives’ woes, a neighbourhood weirdo who fancies himself as a private detective and thinks he can solve the crimes keeps bothering them.
Gardener is sure the cases are linked but the clock is ticking, resources are stretched, and the pressure is mounting to find who is responsible, and why.
Sally Summerby charges into a Leeds police station, utterly distraught. Her five-year-old daughter has gone missing, presumably abducted. Yet despite mobilising all of their resources, the police can find no sign of the child.
DI Stewart Gardener gets wind of the case when investigating the murder of a woman in her rented suburban house. She has been pinned to the floor with a bayonet. Yet under her body is a photo of the child.
The mother knows nothing of this woman. And she is clearly shocked when it is established the latter is a sex worker. But as several weeks have passed since the abduction, she becomes more and more desperate.
DI Gardener and his trusty sergeant Sean Reilly are also getting frustrated. A local businessman linked to the victim’s property has been poisoned. And to add to the detectives’ woes, a neighbourhood weirdo who fancies himself as a private detective and thinks he can solve the crimes keeps bothering them.
Gardener is sure the cases are linked but the clock is ticking, resources are stretched, and the pressure is mounting to find who is responsible, and why.
- GenresFiction
329 pages, Paperback
First published May 20, 2020
149 people are currently reading
96 people want to read
About the author
Ray Clark
38 books35 followersThe British Fantasy Society published Ray Clark's first work in 1995 - Manitou Man: The World of Graham Masterton, was nominated for both the World and British Fantasy Awards. In 2009, Ray's short story, Promises To Keep, made the final shortlist for the best short story award from The Tom Howard Foundation. Ray is based in Goole, and has set his Gardener and Reilly crime series in nearby Leeds.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
September 5, 2022
Another fast paced investigation with lots of links and all the time, trying to take the reader down a different path as to who is behind all the activities. Great story and very well written!
June 21, 2020
We expect a lot from this author - and IMPRESSION does not disappoint. This is a complex story, but very well told, and a gripping thriller that has the police and the reader foiled to the very end. The characters are convincing, the story realistic and the suspense killing - literally. You won't want to put it down. Crime fiction at its very best. Highly recommended.
September 23, 2022
This was the last story in the box set I have, another crime thriller with grisly murders and psychological roots.
D.I. Gardener and his team follow the paths of victims and possible killers. I like how the police procedures are portrayed, and the writing style, though it's sometimes repetitious. The characters suit the story and the police banter lightens the mood.
I don't give spoilers so will just say that this story is fast-paced, gory, sad and engaging.
Worth a look.
D.I. Gardener and his team follow the paths of victims and possible killers. I like how the police procedures are portrayed, and the writing style, though it's sometimes repetitious. The characters suit the story and the police banter lightens the mood.
I don't give spoilers so will just say that this story is fast-paced, gory, sad and engaging.
Worth a look.
July 11, 2022
What a Read?
Well, all I can say is that the DI and his team certainly had their work cut out for them this time! Bodies dropping like flies. As were the clues, but no one could immediately solve the case(s). A very intense read that you can’t put down.
Absolutely amazing. Worthy of 5 stars.
Well, all I can say is that the DI and his team certainly had their work cut out for them this time! Bodies dropping like flies. As were the clues, but no one could immediately solve the case(s). A very intense read that you can’t put down.
Absolutely amazing. Worthy of 5 stars.
January 24, 2023
Realistic and gripping
Apart from the fact that I know this area in Yorkshire well, I found this to be an excellently constructed plot, with well developed characters. I really felt the pressure the investigative team were working under to solve a very convoluted case. Excellent read.
Apart from the fact that I know this area in Yorkshire well, I found this to be an excellently constructed plot, with well developed characters. I really felt the pressure the investigative team were working under to solve a very convoluted case. Excellent read.
May 28, 2020
Two investigations - one into a murder and the other into an abduction - are confounding Yorkshire police. If Gardener can get to the bottom of one, he might well solve the other. An interesting, clever plot makes this Ray Clark mystery a riveting read.
June 20, 2020
Beyond Fiction
Just bizarre. Over complicated, no where even close to reality. Last novel of this author that I will ATTEMPT to read. All of his stories are way over done, he needs to roll it back a bit and add some reality.
Just bizarre. Over complicated, no where even close to reality. Last novel of this author that I will ATTEMPT to read. All of his stories are way over done, he needs to roll it back a bit and add some reality.
July 7, 2020
This is the 4th book in the series with DI Stewart Gardener and Sergeant Sean Reilly, A five year old girl goes missing which starts a hunt for not only the missing child but for whoever murdered the bodies that keep turning up, great characters, brilliant series.
July 8, 2020
Another great story
Another great in the Yorkshire murder series and very well written. Lots of interesting characters and a story with plenty of twists and turns that keeps you gripped right to the end.
Another great in the Yorkshire murder series and very well written. Lots of interesting characters and a story with plenty of twists and turns that keeps you gripped right to the end.
June 3, 2020
Excellent
Brilliant as ever, plenty of twists to keep you interested. I adore this series, although I did cry at the end.
Looking forward to the next one, great work Mr Clark!
Brilliant as ever, plenty of twists to keep you interested. I adore this series, although I did cry at the end.
Looking forward to the next one, great work Mr Clark!
August 1, 2020
This is a super book
This book was impossible to put down! I loved all the twist and turns amazing!Well worth the time to read it.
This book was impossible to put down! I loved all the twist and turns amazing!Well worth the time to read it.
August 24, 2020
No. Could not finish. A not very appealing main character and plotting that did not grip.
February 15, 2023
What a Good Story .very original and interesting.. my main thought on it was Why did one of the 2 Detectives make the Gun Safe ?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 13, 2023
Very well written, twisty plot, great main characters
August 5, 2025
Enjoyed the book but t didn’t enjoy his sweeping statements about Christianity.
February 4, 2022
While DI Karen Goodman is investigating the disappearance of 5 year old Chloe Summerby, DI Stewart Gardener, DS Sean Reilly, and the team are investigating the death of Nicola Stapleton. But more bodies will soon appear. Vincent Baines, self styled p.i. believes he knows who is behind the killings.
An entertaining and well-written crime story with its likeable main characters.
An entertaining and well-written crime story with its likeable main characters.
December 19, 2020
Gotta start by saying, I am a huge fan of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and I love that someone wrote a book inspired by their work. Murder Ballads is such a great album. As soon as I heard (I listened to this one) Lottie mentioned, I geeked out because I knew where it was heading. And then all the characters were incredibly disparaging about their music- I was faintly offended, haha, but I get it. It's not to everyone's taste.
The story was fast-paced, carefully plotted and thoroughly entertaining. The crimes were gruesome and weird, patterned after historical crimes and one of my favorite albums. The motive was kind of emotional, and the solution was just elegant.
It was over the top and fantastical, but in a way that I really enjoy.
I listened to this one, and I want to give credit to the narrator, who is first rate. The way he switched between character voices was effortless.
The story was fast-paced, carefully plotted and thoroughly entertaining. The crimes were gruesome and weird, patterned after historical crimes and one of my favorite albums. The motive was kind of emotional, and the solution was just elegant.
It was over the top and fantastical, but in a way that I really enjoy.
I listened to this one, and I want to give credit to the narrator, who is first rate. The way he switched between character voices was effortless.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews