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The Resurrection
A month after the death of a retired FBI agent in a remote field, DI Damen Brook is in limbo while his role in the fatal shooting is investigated. Faced with a difficult balancing act between saving his career and preserving his liberty, Brook can at least console himself that his struggles with the Reaper are over.
But then, during the course of the investigation, Brook meets ambitious detective DS Kelly Tyson and is stunned to discover new information about his old adversary, Victor Sorenson, and events surrounding the Reaper murders in his old stamping ground of London.
Before he can make sense of the new information, a further Reaper killing in Derby plunges Brook back into the maelstrom but, to his dismay, he is now outside the investigation and powerless to influence events. Even more galling, an old rival has taken over and is determined to side-line Brook and humiliate him to avenge past slights.
Forced to act alone, Brook realises that, to put an end to the Reaper killings, he must leave Derbyshire and travel halfway around the world to face his nemesis.
But then, during the course of the investigation, Brook meets ambitious detective DS Kelly Tyson and is stunned to discover new information about his old adversary, Victor Sorenson, and events surrounding the Reaper murders in his old stamping ground of London.
Before he can make sense of the new information, a further Reaper killing in Derby plunges Brook back into the maelstrom but, to his dismay, he is now outside the investigation and powerless to influence events. Even more galling, an old rival has taken over and is determined to side-line Brook and humiliate him to avenge past slights.
Forced to act alone, Brook realises that, to put an end to the Reaper killings, he must leave Derbyshire and travel halfway around the world to face his nemesis.
447 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 13, 2020
About the author
Steven Dunne
22 books123 followers Steven left Rhodesway School in Bradford, Yorkshire in 1976 after taking A-levels. He graduated from Kent University in 1979 and, after taking a year’s Post Graduate Certificate in Education at St Mary’s College in Twickenham, he undertook a variety of jobs in London, including Public Relations Consultant, freelance Journalist and supply teacher.
He wrote occasional articles for The Guardian, The Times and The Independent while working on various writing projects including his own brief career in stand-up comedy. During this time he co-wrote a comedy pilot for Channel 4 entitled Not Enough Poodles but, unfortunately it fell at the final commissioning hurdle. He wrote the Book for the award-winning Latchmere Theatre Christmas pantomime of Hansel and Gretel in 1989.
In 1988, he began teaching English in Croydon before moving to Derby in 1996, where he began to think about writing a novel.
After being turned onto thrillers by Thomas Harris' The Silence of the Lambs, he realised that most thrillers failed to deliver their promised exitement, so in 2007, after spending two fruitless years marketing the novel to the publishing industry, Steven self-published Reaper, a thriller about a serial killer who strikes in Derby. It sold over 1500 copies in the East Midlands and in 2008, and received very encouraging reviews. Harper Collins bought the rights and The Reaper was released internationally in 2009. A sequel, The Disciple, was released in August 2010. Both books were critically acclaimed. He signed a publishing deal at Headline to release the next DI Brook thriller Deity, which will be released in June 2012.
You can also contact him on Facebook.
He wrote occasional articles for The Guardian, The Times and The Independent while working on various writing projects including his own brief career in stand-up comedy. During this time he co-wrote a comedy pilot for Channel 4 entitled Not Enough Poodles but, unfortunately it fell at the final commissioning hurdle. He wrote the Book for the award-winning Latchmere Theatre Christmas pantomime of Hansel and Gretel in 1989.
In 1988, he began teaching English in Croydon before moving to Derby in 1996, where he began to think about writing a novel.
After being turned onto thrillers by Thomas Harris' The Silence of the Lambs, he realised that most thrillers failed to deliver their promised exitement, so in 2007, after spending two fruitless years marketing the novel to the publishing industry, Steven self-published Reaper, a thriller about a serial killer who strikes in Derby. It sold over 1500 copies in the East Midlands and in 2008, and received very encouraging reviews. Harper Collins bought the rights and The Reaper was released internationally in 2009. A sequel, The Disciple, was released in August 2010. Both books were critically acclaimed. He signed a publishing deal at Headline to release the next DI Brook thriller Deity, which will be released in June 2012.
You can also contact him on Facebook.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 18, 2025
This book has appeared out of sequence. It is a full blown novel and is in fact book number 3 in the D.I. Brook series. It falls before Deity released in 2012 and if it was just a novella could be 2.5. It is of equal standing with The Reaper, The Disciple, books 1 and 2, and forms the final instalment in this trilogy.
Damien Brook is a wonderful character and I have missed this series. I was delighted when I heard this missing book was finally being published.
These are not the crazy ramblings of an author. Neither are they the unpublished bits that were edited from the original two novels. This is a completely new offering that ties many of the unanswered aspects raised in the first two books.
It does this brilliantly as it is about D.I. Brook exorcising the ghosts of his past and takes place in the immediate outcome at the end of The Disciple.
Brook is under investigation following the shoot out between two ex-FBI agents where one was killed and the other rushed to hospital by Brook. The survivor lies in a coma and Brook has to face the music alone as there were three guns at the scene and therefore suspicion falls on the D.I.
Meanwhile Brooks overarching knowledge of the Reaper and these latest “copycat” killing has embarrassed the local force and no suspects are left in custody. With Brook off front-line he is taken off the case and replaced as senior investigating officer.
I loved the pace and intelligent writing Dunne brings to his work. The jeopardy and uncertainty that befalls and hangs over characters, especially Brook.
Brook here is side-lined and marginalised throughout the first part of this book but he is working hard to find out the truth and trace the influence of The Reaper from beyond the grave.
At this juncture I need to say that for me The Reaper is a wonderful conceptual character as this avenging criminal mind murdering whole families - A Reaper indeed.
He is right up there with Moriarty and Hannibal Lecter. He seems to be present in every chapter and is a controlling influence still.
The chronology is also cleverly arranged to draw out the missing strands which weave seamlessly into this book that can be read as a thrilling stand-alone.
I’m not sure how long this project has dogged this author. I first met him at a local library when he was promoting his second book. He was driven and the Reaper project was all consuming. I immediately read both his books and was amazed he was a debut author and subsequently overjoyed when he got a firm publication deal, to write more Brook novels.
I loved these too as Brook is a great cop, intelligent, intuitive and impulsive.
Lately Steven Dunne appears to have had a hiatus from writing, anything, although being local I have seen him supporting other authors here in the East Midlands. If he writes nothing again, then in completing his trilogy and closing the Reaper story here in The Resurrection then he has written his best novel yet. However, I hope it will spur him on to even better things because the mark of a good writer is that you can pick up a book and immediately feel at home and in harmony with the story. Like a “friend” not seen in years who quickly finds the conversation back as though no time has passed.
I felt fully at ease reading a Dunne novel again. The Resurrection is a terrific book; this is not a surprise to me as Steven is an incredible writer and D.I. Brook v The Reaper is the very essence of great story telling and modern crime thrillers.
Damien Brook is a wonderful character and I have missed this series. I was delighted when I heard this missing book was finally being published.
These are not the crazy ramblings of an author. Neither are they the unpublished bits that were edited from the original two novels. This is a completely new offering that ties many of the unanswered aspects raised in the first two books.
It does this brilliantly as it is about D.I. Brook exorcising the ghosts of his past and takes place in the immediate outcome at the end of The Disciple.
Brook is under investigation following the shoot out between two ex-FBI agents where one was killed and the other rushed to hospital by Brook. The survivor lies in a coma and Brook has to face the music alone as there were three guns at the scene and therefore suspicion falls on the D.I.
Meanwhile Brooks overarching knowledge of the Reaper and these latest “copycat” killing has embarrassed the local force and no suspects are left in custody. With Brook off front-line he is taken off the case and replaced as senior investigating officer.
I loved the pace and intelligent writing Dunne brings to his work. The jeopardy and uncertainty that befalls and hangs over characters, especially Brook.
Brook here is side-lined and marginalised throughout the first part of this book but he is working hard to find out the truth and trace the influence of The Reaper from beyond the grave.
At this juncture I need to say that for me The Reaper is a wonderful conceptual character as this avenging criminal mind murdering whole families - A Reaper indeed.
He is right up there with Moriarty and Hannibal Lecter. He seems to be present in every chapter and is a controlling influence still.
The chronology is also cleverly arranged to draw out the missing strands which weave seamlessly into this book that can be read as a thrilling stand-alone.
I’m not sure how long this project has dogged this author. I first met him at a local library when he was promoting his second book. He was driven and the Reaper project was all consuming. I immediately read both his books and was amazed he was a debut author and subsequently overjoyed when he got a firm publication deal, to write more Brook novels.
I loved these too as Brook is a great cop, intelligent, intuitive and impulsive.
Lately Steven Dunne appears to have had a hiatus from writing, anything, although being local I have seen him supporting other authors here in the East Midlands. If he writes nothing again, then in completing his trilogy and closing the Reaper story here in The Resurrection then he has written his best novel yet. However, I hope it will spur him on to even better things because the mark of a good writer is that you can pick up a book and immediately feel at home and in harmony with the story. Like a “friend” not seen in years who quickly finds the conversation back as though no time has passed.
I felt fully at ease reading a Dunne novel again. The Resurrection is a terrific book; this is not a surprise to me as Steven is an incredible writer and D.I. Brook v The Reaper is the very essence of great story telling and modern crime thrillers.
August 23, 2020
Damen is back! Three years ago I read the second book of the Reaper series (or trilogy how it is written on the book), eager to read on about DI Brook’s adventures. Only this summer, the third book was published (noted, that I missed out all the books on DI Brook without the Reaper inbetween). Right before my end-of-summer vacation. So I wondered what Steven Dunne had up his sleeve. And it actually contained a magic trick, which one might call a sleight of body.
This time, it takes quite a while until a murder. The initial part of the book features looking back at the events after the Reaper’s murders in 2010, but also around Prof Sorenson’s death in 2008. Brook is questioned about the events leading to the death of Ex-FBI McQuarry, shot by her ex-partner Drexler. That’s where Brook gets to know DS Kelly Tyson in who he finds a source on an interesting investigation happening before the Professor’s death. Together with DCI Fulbright, she followed up on a lead of the dying Charlie Rowland which linked Sorenson to the Reaper investigation. Ok, maybe too many names for this review. In short, some new information turned up from talks to Tyson leading to a big twist to the whole Reaper network situation.
Meanwhile, young criminal Jason Wallis is set free, holding a grudge against Damen, against his aunt, against a teacher who, as he learned, humiliated him. This is the strand running quite expectedly and leading to a dead cat and more. And when Jason’s aunt is seemingly killed by the Reaper, Damen instantly knows the truth on her death. It’s a cat and mouse like game (no pun intended) between the characters, which leads to some surprising revelations.
As before, I enjoyed the writing of Dunne a lot. The story never failed to surprise and is full of suspense, even with late deathly crimes. Brook is not the conventional detective, but his conclusions always feel right in retrospect. This novel is a really cool wind-up of the Reaper story and even the ending had a twist that made me grin and hope for more. And, yes, I definitely have to catch up on Damen’s other stories.
This time, it takes quite a while until a murder. The initial part of the book features looking back at the events after the Reaper’s murders in 2010, but also around Prof Sorenson’s death in 2008. Brook is questioned about the events leading to the death of Ex-FBI McQuarry, shot by her ex-partner Drexler. That’s where Brook gets to know DS Kelly Tyson in who he finds a source on an interesting investigation happening before the Professor’s death. Together with DCI Fulbright, she followed up on a lead of the dying Charlie Rowland which linked Sorenson to the Reaper investigation. Ok, maybe too many names for this review. In short, some new information turned up from talks to Tyson leading to a big twist to the whole Reaper network situation.
Meanwhile, young criminal Jason Wallis is set free, holding a grudge against Damen, against his aunt, against a teacher who, as he learned, humiliated him. This is the strand running quite expectedly and leading to a dead cat and more. And when Jason’s aunt is seemingly killed by the Reaper, Damen instantly knows the truth on her death. It’s a cat and mouse like game (no pun intended) between the characters, which leads to some surprising revelations.
As before, I enjoyed the writing of Dunne a lot. The story never failed to surprise and is full of suspense, even with late deathly crimes. Brook is not the conventional detective, but his conclusions always feel right in retrospect. This novel is a really cool wind-up of the Reaper story and even the ending had a twist that made me grin and hope for more. And, yes, I definitely have to catch up on Damen’s other stories.
September 6, 2020
A firm fan of this series, I reread the previous two books to get back into the mindset.
For those who haven’t read the earlier books, this could work as a stand alone as the author goes back to earlier time frames in passages throughout the books. For me, this was a little tedious but as the background was coming from a different character perspective, it was forgiven.
This story ties up a lot of loose ends from the previous book and brings a degree of closure. However, there are a few chinks of light through that closed door that might mean The Reaper storyline could be ‘resurrected’ further.......
....... I’m somewhat embarrassed to say I hope it will. The series has remained in my heart from the earlier books as the death of the victims and the reasons behind them found an approving resonance (for the adults at least) within my heart.
Having a professional involvement with families similar to the victims, I know only too well the unforgivable impact on the neighbourhoods they inhabit. So, I am honest enough with myself as a reader, to hope that the work of The Reaper’s work isn’t over yet......
For those who haven’t read the earlier books, this could work as a stand alone as the author goes back to earlier time frames in passages throughout the books. For me, this was a little tedious but as the background was coming from a different character perspective, it was forgiven.
This story ties up a lot of loose ends from the previous book and brings a degree of closure. However, there are a few chinks of light through that closed door that might mean The Reaper storyline could be ‘resurrected’ further.......
....... I’m somewhat embarrassed to say I hope it will. The series has remained in my heart from the earlier books as the death of the victims and the reasons behind them found an approving resonance (for the adults at least) within my heart.
Having a professional involvement with families similar to the victims, I know only too well the unforgivable impact on the neighbourhoods they inhabit. So, I am honest enough with myself as a reader, to hope that the work of The Reaper’s work isn’t over yet......
November 9, 2023
It was awesome conclusion to the reaper trilogy, but I wish there was more to this story line.
I already read Deity (book 3) and The Unquiet Grave (book 4), and the The Resurrection happens before Deity. Basically its book 2.5.
The problem is that books 3 and 4 do not even reference events from The Resurrection, as The Resurrection was publish after them, yet it deals with big events before 3 and 4.
This out of order story line ruins book 3 and 4, and probably others, because there are no consequences to the events in The Resurrection in those books. Steven Dunne really massed up the continuity.
I already read Deity (book 3) and The Unquiet Grave (book 4), and the The Resurrection happens before Deity. Basically its book 2.5.
The problem is that books 3 and 4 do not even reference events from The Resurrection, as The Resurrection was publish after them, yet it deals with big events before 3 and 4.
This out of order story line ruins book 3 and 4, and probably others, because there are no consequences to the events in The Resurrection in those books. Steven Dunne really massed up the continuity.
January 30, 2025
I really enjoyed this trilogy. I think the second (The Disciple) could be my favourite of the 3.
I’m surprised this isn’t a more popular series! They are all incredibly well written, building tension whilst developing the characters and unexpected twists.
The Resurrection ties loose ends together well. However, I did feel it was a bit repetitive in how frequently the previous storylines were revisited.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this trilogy and look forward to reading more of Steven Dunne’s novels!
I’m surprised this isn’t a more popular series! They are all incredibly well written, building tension whilst developing the characters and unexpected twists.
The Resurrection ties loose ends together well. However, I did feel it was a bit repetitive in how frequently the previous storylines were revisited.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this trilogy and look forward to reading more of Steven Dunne’s novels!
September 22, 2023
I have just loved this trilogy...... loved it.
I'm going to miss Damen Brook.
I'm going to miss Damen Brook.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews