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DCI Paul Cullen Mysteries #3
Dead Ahead
Detective Chief Inspector Paul Cullen of the British Transport Police is back in a brand new mystery and the final part of the Archangel Trilogy.
When a body is discovered on tracks in West London, the hunt for a killer begins.
But who is the victim?
And how does the crime relate to DCI Paul Cullen?
The race to uncover the truth commences.
Meanwhile, Paul Cullen’s recent past is about to catch up with him, with potentially deadly consequences.
When a body is discovered on tracks in West London, the hunt for a killer begins.
But who is the victim?
And how does the crime relate to DCI Paul Cullen?
The race to uncover the truth commences.
Meanwhile, Paul Cullen’s recent past is about to catch up with him, with potentially deadly consequences.
270 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 3, 2021
86 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
Paul Pilkington
18 books254 followersPaul Pilkington is a British author of mystery, suspense and thriller novels.
He is best known for his Emma Holden Suspense Mystery series, which follows the story of a young actress named Emma Holden who is thrown into a world of danger and intrigue after the sudden disappearance of her boyfriend. The three novels of the trilogy - The One You Love, The One You Fear, and The One You Trust - have gained thousands of five star reviews worldwide.
Pilkington has also written several best-selling standalone novels, including For Your Own Protection and the Kindle Number One Someone to Save You.
His highly rated Detective Paul Cullen mystery series, featuring a dedicated and determined british transport police detective, is currently at Book 4.
Paul's new novel, You Must Remember Everything, is a psychological thriller about a woman who wakes up in a sealed room, unable to remember who she is or how she got there. To escape, she must face her darkest memories and fears.
Paul Pilkington's writing style is fast-paced, suspenseful, and character-driven. His novels explore the most human of themes and issues, such as love, loss, family, and redemption, in a way that keeps those pages turning.
He is best known for his Emma Holden Suspense Mystery series, which follows the story of a young actress named Emma Holden who is thrown into a world of danger and intrigue after the sudden disappearance of her boyfriend. The three novels of the trilogy - The One You Love, The One You Fear, and The One You Trust - have gained thousands of five star reviews worldwide.
Pilkington has also written several best-selling standalone novels, including For Your Own Protection and the Kindle Number One Someone to Save You.
His highly rated Detective Paul Cullen mystery series, featuring a dedicated and determined british transport police detective, is currently at Book 4.
Paul's new novel, You Must Remember Everything, is a psychological thriller about a woman who wakes up in a sealed room, unable to remember who she is or how she got there. To escape, she must face her darkest memories and fears.
Paul Pilkington's writing style is fast-paced, suspenseful, and character-driven. His novels explore the most human of themes and issues, such as love, loss, family, and redemption, in a way that keeps those pages turning.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 15, 2021
A detective handles a new case that confounds the whole department. As he digs into the clues, an older crime he investigated finds its way back into his routine with dangerous implications. Author Paul Pilkington returns with the third book in his Paul Cullen Mysteries series in the fast-paced satisfying book Dead Ahead.
Detective Chief Inspector Paul Cullen knows that his work as a member of the British Transport Police is never done. Tasked with keeping Londoners and tourists safe on the city’s mass transit system, it’s rare that he has a slow day. Robbery, indecent exposure, accidents—all of these things and more fall under his jurisdiction.
He’s hoping that his public safety initiative, Operation Archangel, will stem some of the crime. By enlisting the help of the commuting public to keep one another safe, he feels like his job is made a little easier but not by much. For every passenger who speaks up about an incident of harassment on London’s subway system, there are more creeps getting their kicks by using the close proximity of public transportation to molest people.
Occasionally, though, Cullen does get called away to other types of cases, and his latest one is just that. A body has been found on the tracks of a freight train line. The man has no identification. The only thing in his pocket is a cryptic note that reads, “Soon everyone will know what you really are!”
The first cops on the scene determine that the man didn’t die on the tracks. His casual outfit, more suited for a night at home, and the evidence at the scene suggest as much. Without more information to go on at the moment, Cullen thinks he and DI Marianne McGuire will have their work cut out for them.
To Cullen and McGuire’s surprise, a woman reports her husband missing and it turns out to be their victim from the tracks. Cullen learns he was local school teacher Michael Gossage, and the case immediately becomes more clear and more complicated. Who would want to harm a 35-year-old history teacher?
Cullen begins the painstaking work of sifting through evidence, following his own gut and McGuire’s hunches as they try to retrace Michael’s last hours and the people in his life. Complications arise in the case as well as on other fronts. Cullen’s supervisor, Maggie Ferguson, tells him that Operation Archangel is going to be shut down. In the meantime, someone connected to an earlier case decides they’re ready for revenge. As Cullen works through the mysterious death of the history teacher, he’ll have to stay alert to avoid further trouble or worse.
Author Paul Pilkington returns with his trademark cliffhanger style in this latest thriller. Building on previous books in the series, Pilkington continues to build his complicated, flawed protagonist. The more time readers spend with Cullen, the more they’ll want to root him on. However, he doesn’t always make the best decisions or react with confidence or speed, which makes him feel grounded and real.
While Pilkington’s talent in the genre was established early with his Emma Holden trilogy, this newest series shows he has cliffhanger endings for chapters almost down to a science. The author’s growth in writing allows for a more thoughtful approach while still keeping readers up late into the night. Cullen has to balance his personal life and his professional one, and Pilkington does an admirable job showing the juxtaposition.
The references to Long Gone, the first book in the series, feel distracting from time to time. Tertiary characters from the first book get more time and space on the page in this latest Cullen installment. Some readers might appreciate Pilkington tying up loose ends; others might find themselves getting impatient to return to Cullen and his latest case.
Regardless, Pilkington doesn’t linger too long with the other characters, and his newest protagonist does him proud. Those who enjoy thrillers will like this one.
Detective Chief Inspector Paul Cullen knows that his work as a member of the British Transport Police is never done. Tasked with keeping Londoners and tourists safe on the city’s mass transit system, it’s rare that he has a slow day. Robbery, indecent exposure, accidents—all of these things and more fall under his jurisdiction.
He’s hoping that his public safety initiative, Operation Archangel, will stem some of the crime. By enlisting the help of the commuting public to keep one another safe, he feels like his job is made a little easier but not by much. For every passenger who speaks up about an incident of harassment on London’s subway system, there are more creeps getting their kicks by using the close proximity of public transportation to molest people.
Occasionally, though, Cullen does get called away to other types of cases, and his latest one is just that. A body has been found on the tracks of a freight train line. The man has no identification. The only thing in his pocket is a cryptic note that reads, “Soon everyone will know what you really are!”
The first cops on the scene determine that the man didn’t die on the tracks. His casual outfit, more suited for a night at home, and the evidence at the scene suggest as much. Without more information to go on at the moment, Cullen thinks he and DI Marianne McGuire will have their work cut out for them.
To Cullen and McGuire’s surprise, a woman reports her husband missing and it turns out to be their victim from the tracks. Cullen learns he was local school teacher Michael Gossage, and the case immediately becomes more clear and more complicated. Who would want to harm a 35-year-old history teacher?
Cullen begins the painstaking work of sifting through evidence, following his own gut and McGuire’s hunches as they try to retrace Michael’s last hours and the people in his life. Complications arise in the case as well as on other fronts. Cullen’s supervisor, Maggie Ferguson, tells him that Operation Archangel is going to be shut down. In the meantime, someone connected to an earlier case decides they’re ready for revenge. As Cullen works through the mysterious death of the history teacher, he’ll have to stay alert to avoid further trouble or worse.
Author Paul Pilkington returns with his trademark cliffhanger style in this latest thriller. Building on previous books in the series, Pilkington continues to build his complicated, flawed protagonist. The more time readers spend with Cullen, the more they’ll want to root him on. However, he doesn’t always make the best decisions or react with confidence or speed, which makes him feel grounded and real.
While Pilkington’s talent in the genre was established early with his Emma Holden trilogy, this newest series shows he has cliffhanger endings for chapters almost down to a science. The author’s growth in writing allows for a more thoughtful approach while still keeping readers up late into the night. Cullen has to balance his personal life and his professional one, and Pilkington does an admirable job showing the juxtaposition.
The references to Long Gone, the first book in the series, feel distracting from time to time. Tertiary characters from the first book get more time and space on the page in this latest Cullen installment. Some readers might appreciate Pilkington tying up loose ends; others might find themselves getting impatient to return to Cullen and his latest case.
Regardless, Pilkington doesn’t linger too long with the other characters, and his newest protagonist does him proud. Those who enjoy thrillers will like this one.
September 4, 2022
I love reading series where the plots and twists are connected with happenings in previous books in the series.
I'm a sucker for British Detective stories and I can never have enough them, so I'm very pleased to hear there is a fourth Paul Cullen book releasing this winter
I'm a sucker for British Detective stories and I can never have enough them, so I'm very pleased to hear there is a fourth Paul Cullen book releasing this winter
September 30, 2022
Sexual assaults on the Underground - upskirting as well as other offenses. Pretty scary. Loved this book and looking forward to the next in the series out on Jan. 30. 2023. Thank you, Paul Pilkington, for a great series.
April 17, 2023
enjoyable
Easy read. I actually liked the recap at the beginning as I read a lot of crime fiction so when a back story is included in the current book I’ve often forgotten what previously happened. Look forward to the next book
Easy read. I actually liked the recap at the beginning as I read a lot of crime fiction so when a back story is included in the current book I’ve often forgotten what previously happened. Look forward to the next book
June 27, 2024
Great Read!
I love Paul Pilkington’s mystery books, and have especially enjoyed this DCI Cullen series. Also, as an American who has traveled to London, I like hearing about areas I have visited, and enjoy learning English terms and phrases.
I love Paul Pilkington’s mystery books, and have especially enjoyed this DCI Cullen series. Also, as an American who has traveled to London, I like hearing about areas I have visited, and enjoy learning English terms and phrases.
December 16, 2021
excellent
I really enjoyed his first 2 books on this series. it makes a refreshing change to read about the railway police service
I really enjoyed his first 2 books on this series. it makes a refreshing change to read about the railway police service
February 18, 2022
Good Read
Paul is a good new character I hope there are more stories to come from this Author in the future
Paul is a good new character I hope there are more stories to come from this Author in the future
February 5, 2024
This series just keeps getting better and better
July 21, 2024
Another good story. Interesting plot where a dead body is found on the tracks- a mystery as to who would have done this and why. Characters from the last book are brought back.
June 18, 2025
Not as good as the first two and repetitive in terms of story line.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews