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DCI Rachel King #4
Forgotten Victim
The decomposed remains of a body are found entombed in the depths of a disused Manchester cotton mill. Detective Rachel King is called in to investigate the grisly discovery.
IF NO ONE KNOWS THE VICTIM, HOW CAN YOU CATCH THE KILLER?
With gunshot wounds to the knees, this was no accident. This was murder. But the question is: was this a gangland killing or a murder motivated by a deadly secret closer to home?
With the help of DS Elwyn Price, Rachel must follow the evidence where it takes her. But who can she trust? And who in this notorious area knows more than they’re admitting to?
Meanwhile, Rachel has a huge secret of her own. How long can she keep her pregnancy from her colleagues before she has to face up to the reality of her relationship with the shadowy character Jed McAteer?
Can Rachel uncover the dark secrets of the past and catch the killer — before anyone else dies?
IF NO ONE KNOWS THE VICTIM, HOW CAN YOU CATCH THE KILLER?
With gunshot wounds to the knees, this was no accident. This was murder. But the question is: was this a gangland killing or a murder motivated by a deadly secret closer to home?
With the help of DS Elwyn Price, Rachel must follow the evidence where it takes her. But who can she trust? And who in this notorious area knows more than they’re admitting to?
Meanwhile, Rachel has a huge secret of her own. How long can she keep her pregnancy from her colleagues before she has to face up to the reality of her relationship with the shadowy character Jed McAteer?
Can Rachel uncover the dark secrets of the past and catch the killer — before anyone else dies?
238 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 24, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
December 19, 2020
DCI Rachel King #4
The decomposed remains of a body are found entombed in the depths of a disused Manchester cotton mill. With gun shot wounds to the knees, thiscwas no accident. But the question is: was this a gangland killing or murder motivated by a deadly secret closer to home?
This is another well written, thought provoking and gripping read by the author. There's so many twists virtually spinning. The characters are well developed. I did guess who the perpetrator and their motive near enough from where the character was introduced to us. I like Helen's writing style. She has the knack to pull you in from the first chapter. This is a most enjoyable series.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #JoffeBooks and the author #HelenHDurrant for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The decomposed remains of a body are found entombed in the depths of a disused Manchester cotton mill. With gun shot wounds to the knees, thiscwas no accident. But the question is: was this a gangland killing or murder motivated by a deadly secret closer to home?
This is another well written, thought provoking and gripping read by the author. There's so many twists virtually spinning. The characters are well developed. I did guess who the perpetrator and their motive near enough from where the character was introduced to us. I like Helen's writing style. She has the knack to pull you in from the first chapter. This is a most enjoyable series.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #JoffeBooks and the author #HelenHDurrant for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 5, 2020
I have read lots of this authors work this year after purchasing a complete series earlier on in the year and find the books well written and good characters and believable plots. This book is the 4th book in the Detective Rachel King series. I have read the previous three so was already very familiar with many of the characters that obviously helps when trying to get into a book.
This case revolves round a decomposed body that is discovered in the depths of a disused Manchester cotton mill. Detective Rachel King is asked to investigate and discovers that the victim had gunshot wounds to the knees proving this was no accident. Rachel is aided by DS Elwyn Price as they try to uncover the killer of what looks like it could be a gangland killing but Rachel is not convinced.
Rachel is three months pregnant and has told no one other than her trusted ally Elwyn. The father to be is Jed McAteer who's past is far from angelic and Rachel must soon make her news common knowledge. A good crime plot with a few twists and turns and plenty of back stories to make it another entertaining read.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Joffe Books for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review
This case revolves round a decomposed body that is discovered in the depths of a disused Manchester cotton mill. Detective Rachel King is asked to investigate and discovers that the victim had gunshot wounds to the knees proving this was no accident. Rachel is aided by DS Elwyn Price as they try to uncover the killer of what looks like it could be a gangland killing but Rachel is not convinced.
Rachel is three months pregnant and has told no one other than her trusted ally Elwyn. The father to be is Jed McAteer who's past is far from angelic and Rachel must soon make her news common knowledge. A good crime plot with a few twists and turns and plenty of back stories to make it another entertaining read.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Joffe Books for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review
December 29, 2020
The old cotton mill has been closed for many years. When two young boys decided to take a look around, one of them fell though the floor. Luckily the boy wasn't hurt but they found something that would give them nightmares for a long time to come.
DC Rachel King, along with DS Elwyn Price, are called to investigate the finding of a decomposed remains found in the cotton mill.
Medical examination shows the body had gunshot wounds to the knees and a indent on the side of his head. This was no accident ... they are looking for a murderer ... and an identity for the victim.
The police investigation brings up several suspects, once they've identified the body. They all seem connected, but no one is talking. They seem more afraid of keeping their secrets than telling the cops what they know. Just who are they all afraid of? Why?
Meanwhile, Rachel has a huge secret of her own... something that could affect her job and colleagues.
As more bodies fall, King and Price must reveal secrets of the past in order to catch the killer.
As with all the books I've read from this author, the intricate plot is well written with multiple varied suspects to watch, and several twists and turns that rival a roller coaster ride. The characters are solidly drawn. The relationships are credible .. I enjoy how the professional, as well as the personal, lives are blended. Although 4th in the series, this can easily be read as a stand alone. However, I do recommend starting at the beginning ... lots of nuggets explored that make this such an exciting series.
Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books / Books n All Promotions / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
DC Rachel King, along with DS Elwyn Price, are called to investigate the finding of a decomposed remains found in the cotton mill.
Medical examination shows the body had gunshot wounds to the knees and a indent on the side of his head. This was no accident ... they are looking for a murderer ... and an identity for the victim.
The police investigation brings up several suspects, once they've identified the body. They all seem connected, but no one is talking. They seem more afraid of keeping their secrets than telling the cops what they know. Just who are they all afraid of? Why?
Meanwhile, Rachel has a huge secret of her own... something that could affect her job and colleagues.
As more bodies fall, King and Price must reveal secrets of the past in order to catch the killer.
As with all the books I've read from this author, the intricate plot is well written with multiple varied suspects to watch, and several twists and turns that rival a roller coaster ride. The characters are solidly drawn. The relationships are credible .. I enjoy how the professional, as well as the personal, lives are blended. Although 4th in the series, this can easily be read as a stand alone. However, I do recommend starting at the beginning ... lots of nuggets explored that make this such an exciting series.
Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books / Books n All Promotions / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
December 18, 2020
2 boys, playing in the dilapidated Shawcross cotton mill in Manchester discover a dead body in a tunnel under the floorboards. It looks like it’s been there for about 3 years and that the man was shot, tied up and bricked in and left to die, a horrible crime. A lot of businesses have rented units in the mill over the years, so it’s not easy to establish the identity of the deceased, or who killed him.
DCI Rachel King has more than enough problems of her own as well. The new DSI is Mark Kenton, a former DCI with whom she has ‘strained relations’ and who’s counting the pennies she can spend on her investigations. He’s already interfering and gives her a week to process this crime before he gives it to the cold case team. On top of all the pressure at work, she’s pregnant and hasn’t yet decided how she will handle this. The father is her on/off lover Jed Mc Ateer, a former ruffian who became a respectable property developer. She’s not sure how much involvement she really wants.
Then, there’s a second mystery that’s only just mentioned and probably will be confronted in a future book. A stranger approaches Rachel twice to warn her that the car crash, in which her parents died, was no accident.
This is the 4th book in this series but can be perfectly read on its own. I’m not certain if it’s also the last book because at the end Rachel goes on maternity leave and is replaced by DCI Hennessy and DS Greco (known from another series by the same author). As extended maternity leave can last up to a year in the UK (we’re all jealous about that!), I’m not sure if there will be a cross-over or not.
This book is very professionally written, well-paced, sympathetic main characters with complicated home lives, and an original plot. But it’s this story-line that lacks a bit. I knew who the main culprit was long before I was halfway. The why and how I hadn’t figured out but I was really disappointed about finding the ‘who’ so early on. As this is the first book that I’ve read by this author, I can’t say if this is a habit or not but it was quite obvious. There was another small ‘mystery’ that was also obvious to me; who bought Alan’s house. With the clues given by the author, this is perfect for those that like to play detectives themselves. The dynamic between Rachel and her new DSI is also predictable and not uncommon in similar stories
With the multiple suspects and witnesses as well as several family members of the detectives, there is a rather extensive cast of characters.
And for US and other foreign readers, there’s a helpful, large glossary at the end of the book.
All in all, it was a rather short and pleasant read. It wasn’t great but good enough for me, a typical police procedural.
I thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for the free ARC they provided and this is my honest, unbiased review of it.
DCI Rachel King has more than enough problems of her own as well. The new DSI is Mark Kenton, a former DCI with whom she has ‘strained relations’ and who’s counting the pennies she can spend on her investigations. He’s already interfering and gives her a week to process this crime before he gives it to the cold case team. On top of all the pressure at work, she’s pregnant and hasn’t yet decided how she will handle this. The father is her on/off lover Jed Mc Ateer, a former ruffian who became a respectable property developer. She’s not sure how much involvement she really wants.
Then, there’s a second mystery that’s only just mentioned and probably will be confronted in a future book. A stranger approaches Rachel twice to warn her that the car crash, in which her parents died, was no accident.
This is the 4th book in this series but can be perfectly read on its own. I’m not certain if it’s also the last book because at the end Rachel goes on maternity leave and is replaced by DCI Hennessy and DS Greco (known from another series by the same author). As extended maternity leave can last up to a year in the UK (we’re all jealous about that!), I’m not sure if there will be a cross-over or not.
This book is very professionally written, well-paced, sympathetic main characters with complicated home lives, and an original plot. But it’s this story-line that lacks a bit. I knew who the main culprit was long before I was halfway. The why and how I hadn’t figured out but I was really disappointed about finding the ‘who’ so early on. As this is the first book that I’ve read by this author, I can’t say if this is a habit or not but it was quite obvious. There was another small ‘mystery’ that was also obvious to me; who bought Alan’s house. With the clues given by the author, this is perfect for those that like to play detectives themselves. The dynamic between Rachel and her new DSI is also predictable and not uncommon in similar stories
With the multiple suspects and witnesses as well as several family members of the detectives, there is a rather extensive cast of characters.
And for US and other foreign readers, there’s a helpful, large glossary at the end of the book.
All in all, it was a rather short and pleasant read. It wasn’t great but good enough for me, a typical police procedural.
I thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for the free ARC they provided and this is my honest, unbiased review of it.
December 28, 2020
FORGOTTEN VICTIM is the fourth book in a brilliant crime series by best-selling author, Helen H. Durrant. These novels feature detective DCI Rachel King, a thirty-nine-year-old divorced mother of two teenage daughters who lives next door to ex-husband Alan. Having enjoyed reading most of her novels, I look forward to starting the fourth book in this new series. The novel is set in the Cheshire, ten miles outside Manchester.
The novels in the DCI Rachel King Series Include:
1) Next Victim
2) Two Victims
3) Wrong Victim
4) Forgotten Victim
Two local young lads were walking around in a dark abandoned disused Manchester cotton old mill, the Sawcross Mill, a great playground to explore, when they discovered the remnants of a human body.
Detective Chief Inspector Rachel King is called in to investigate the grisly discovery.
With gunshot wounds to the knees, this was no accident. The body of an unknown male, injured and left to die in a tunnel under the remains of the mill for approximately three years. This was murder.
With the help of DS Elwyn Price, Rachel must follow the evidence and see where it leads her. But people in the area are not talking or disclosing any information, making her job more tedious. Who
can she trust?
Meanwhile, Rachel has a secret of her own. How long can she keep her pregnancy from her colleagues before she has to face up to the reality of her relationship with the shadowy character Jed McAteer?
With the clock ticking and a boss breathing heavily down her neck to solve the case quickly, Rachel must uncover the dark secrets of the past and catch the killer - before it’s too late?
This was a fast-paced gripping crime plot, with an extensive cast of characters, that will keep you on your toes to follow the clues as they are released. Really enjoyed this series and not sure if it will continue, but I hope so.
Many thanks to the author, Joffe Books and Netgalley for my digital copy.
The novels in the DCI Rachel King Series Include:
1) Next Victim
2) Two Victims
3) Wrong Victim
4) Forgotten Victim
Two local young lads were walking around in a dark abandoned disused Manchester cotton old mill, the Sawcross Mill, a great playground to explore, when they discovered the remnants of a human body.
Detective Chief Inspector Rachel King is called in to investigate the grisly discovery.
With gunshot wounds to the knees, this was no accident. The body of an unknown male, injured and left to die in a tunnel under the remains of the mill for approximately three years. This was murder.
With the help of DS Elwyn Price, Rachel must follow the evidence and see where it leads her. But people in the area are not talking or disclosing any information, making her job more tedious. Who
can she trust?
Meanwhile, Rachel has a secret of her own. How long can she keep her pregnancy from her colleagues before she has to face up to the reality of her relationship with the shadowy character Jed McAteer?
With the clock ticking and a boss breathing heavily down her neck to solve the case quickly, Rachel must uncover the dark secrets of the past and catch the killer - before it’s too late?
This was a fast-paced gripping crime plot, with an extensive cast of characters, that will keep you on your toes to follow the clues as they are released. Really enjoyed this series and not sure if it will continue, but I hope so.
Many thanks to the author, Joffe Books and Netgalley for my digital copy.
February 24, 2021
Remains of a body are found in an abandoned mill and detective Rachel King is trying to find who is the victim and who killed him It is not an easy task but she is checking all the suspects. I loved the plot and the characters.
Thank you Netgalley for this book.
Thank you Netgalley for this book.
December 16, 2020
Forgotten Victim is the fourth instalment in the Detective Chief Inspector Rachel King series, set in and around the city of Manchester. The prologue opens with friends 12-year-old Finn Kendal and 11-year-old Jack Handley tentatively exploring nineteenth-century Shawcross Mill in Ancoats, a crumbling, decaying building from a bygone era, when cotton was big business, which is said to be haunted. Suddenly, out of nowhere, Spider, as he's known locally, is coming their way with his cronies. It's well known that he uses the remote location for his drug dealing. As a violent and ruthless criminal, Finn and Jack decide the best course of action is to find a spot to hide. But they get caught. Luckily one of Spider’s associates persuades him to let them go and so they run pell-mell back into the mill but the rotten floorboards give way to reveal a bricked-up tunnel under the floor in which they discover the remnants of a body. DCI King and Welshman DS Elwyn Pryce are called to the scene where forensic expert Dr Judith Glover informs them the corpse is that of a man and that he appeared to have a gunshot wound to each knee and excruciatingly had been left there to die. It's also noteworthy that he was clutching a solid gold St Christopher pendant in his hand; could it have been ripped off the killer's neck in the struggle?
As they wait for more detailed forensics and post-mortem report, the pair visit the boys to gain further information and begin to interview those associated with the land, including Mathew Shawcross, whose family still currently own it. Who would have motive to kill and dump the body in that location or is the area the corpse was found merely a coincidence? This is a compulsive and absorbing crime caper and it held my attention easily from start to finish. I loved the team dynamic and we gain more backstory for the individual members, including Rachel and Elwyn, and I found it all added to the compelling nature of the story. In this episode, Rachel is 3 months pregnant with her ex Jed McAteer’s baby and has only entrusted Elwyn with the information, so it'll certainly be interesting to see how it plays out in future. It all gels and makes for an interesting read. One of the aspects I absolutely adore about these books is the fact that they are told in such a straightforward, linear and no-nonsense manner, which makes it impossible for you to not get sucked in and become effortlessly immersed in the excitement leading to a more enjoyable experience. With an addictive, atmospheric and well-crafted plotline, this is a pacy and suspenseful page-turner I highly recommend.
As they wait for more detailed forensics and post-mortem report, the pair visit the boys to gain further information and begin to interview those associated with the land, including Mathew Shawcross, whose family still currently own it. Who would have motive to kill and dump the body in that location or is the area the corpse was found merely a coincidence? This is a compulsive and absorbing crime caper and it held my attention easily from start to finish. I loved the team dynamic and we gain more backstory for the individual members, including Rachel and Elwyn, and I found it all added to the compelling nature of the story. In this episode, Rachel is 3 months pregnant with her ex Jed McAteer’s baby and has only entrusted Elwyn with the information, so it'll certainly be interesting to see how it plays out in future. It all gels and makes for an interesting read. One of the aspects I absolutely adore about these books is the fact that they are told in such a straightforward, linear and no-nonsense manner, which makes it impossible for you to not get sucked in and become effortlessly immersed in the excitement leading to a more enjoyable experience. With an addictive, atmospheric and well-crafted plotline, this is a pacy and suspenseful page-turner I highly recommend.
December 19, 2020
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
The body of a man is found in an abandoned cotton mill, and it seems he's been deliberately walled in. He's been there a few years, and has gunshot wounds to his knees. It looks like a drug-related killing, but why did he have money stuffed in his mouth...and why did no one report him missing?
It seems like there has been a lot going on in that old mill, and no one is willing talk. They are all afraid to open their mouths. But discovering who they are afraid of, is proving to be difficult. More dead bodies will turn up before this case is solved.
With Mark Kenton back in the picture as their new boss, things are getting tense.
Meanwhile, Rachel has been keeping her pregnancy a secret, but she knows she can't keep it too much longer.
My Opinions:
The books in this series are all fast-paced and an easy entertaining read.
In this one, I easily guessed the perpetrator, but there were a lot of suspects, and each one was interesting. The plot was good.
My main concern with this one was the relationship between Rachel and Jed, which I have not liked from the start, and Rachel didn't really want anything to do with him either. The events in this book don't jive with past impressions.
As in previous books, the author provided an appendix of British slang. I still wish a foot-note method had been used.
I am not sure if this is the last book in the series, but it could be.
January 11, 2021
The fourth and final (to date) in the DCI Rachel king series from east Manchester police. I really enjoyed the storyline , the protagonist Rachel I’ve grown fond of as I’ve read this series over the last few days. The stories are strong with solving the murders & also the side stories involving Rachel and her team.
The reason for the 3 stars in this review was based on sloppy mistakes throughout the book. Numerous times names were incorrect which became confusing & also the timeline of some of the storylines being referred to now, as 5 years ago but in book 1 they were one year ago - however Rachel’s children had only aged one year in this supposed 4 year jump. The proof reader should be giving the money back to the author for the amount of mistakes my tired eyes noted.
Given this though I am still keen to read more from this author and I hope this series brings more books to follow on from Rachel’s maternity leave
The reason for the 3 stars in this review was based on sloppy mistakes throughout the book. Numerous times names were incorrect which became confusing & also the timeline of some of the storylines being referred to now, as 5 years ago but in book 1 they were one year ago - however Rachel’s children had only aged one year in this supposed 4 year jump. The proof reader should be giving the money back to the author for the amount of mistakes my tired eyes noted.
Given this though I am still keen to read more from this author and I hope this series brings more books to follow on from Rachel’s maternity leave
September 1, 2022
*Puzzling Cases*
This is my favourite so far. This instalment finds DCI Rachel King in a pickle of her own. She has big decisions to make in both her personal and professional life.
While that is going on a body is found which is clearly Murder the victim has gunshot wounds in his knees and a makeshift wall built around him. The area was disturbed by kids playing in the area.
The difficulty with this case is no one will talk. They all seem to be petrified. The pressure is on as Rachel and her team have a new Superintendent after his predecessor was removed under a cloud.
The new Supt is not her favourite person and he gives her a week to solve the case or it will be handed over to another team.
Rachel’s team cannot understand why she did not go for the job? But Rachel has a plausible reason and secrets she is trying to hide from them.
The case points one way then the other as they are trying to prevent more killings.
Then her skeleton in the closet Jed her villain ex boyfriend is back on the scene in a way that cannot be ignored.
Then someone in the shadows approaches Rachel with a theory about the death of her parents, was it really an accident…..
This is my favourite so far. This instalment finds DCI Rachel King in a pickle of her own. She has big decisions to make in both her personal and professional life.
While that is going on a body is found which is clearly Murder the victim has gunshot wounds in his knees and a makeshift wall built around him. The area was disturbed by kids playing in the area.
The difficulty with this case is no one will talk. They all seem to be petrified. The pressure is on as Rachel and her team have a new Superintendent after his predecessor was removed under a cloud.
The new Supt is not her favourite person and he gives her a week to solve the case or it will be handed over to another team.
Rachel’s team cannot understand why she did not go for the job? But Rachel has a plausible reason and secrets she is trying to hide from them.
The case points one way then the other as they are trying to prevent more killings.
Then her skeleton in the closet Jed her villain ex boyfriend is back on the scene in a way that cannot be ignored.
Then someone in the shadows approaches Rachel with a theory about the death of her parents, was it really an accident…..
January 28, 2021
Forgotten Victim
is the fourth instalment in the DCI Rachel King series, set in and around the city of Manchester. In a fantastic prologue, the story really starts with a bang that had me hooked even before I had swiped my e-reader to take me to the second page. In this episode, Rachel, the mother of two teenage daughters, is three months pregnant with her ex Jed McAteer’s baby. She is asked to investigate when two boys, 12-year-old Finn Kendal and 11-year-old Jack Handley find the remains of a body in a disused and decaying cotton mill. DS Elwyn Pryce aids Rachel and the pair go in search of the victim's killer. They know it was a murder as there are gunshot wounds in both kneecaps.
Helen H. Durrant has drawn a very deep and complex character in DCI Rachel King. She, fittingly, has secrets that she'd prefer to keep buried. As with the other books I've read by this author, including the first in this series, one from her 'Calladine & Bayliss' series, and one from the 'DI Harry Lennox/DS Jess Wilde' series, the intricate plot is well written. There are multiple suspects to watch, and several twists and turns that resemble a long roller coaster ride. The characters and their respective relationships are credible and I especially enjoy the way their professional and their private lives are interlaced.
This was such a gripping crime thriller that had my heart racing at times and once I had started reading, I didn't want to put it down. I was enthralled right until the great reveal, which was unexpected, to me anyway. Forgotten Victim was brilliant, highly addictive and fast-paced and I can't wait to see what treats might be in store if there is a book five. This is a must-read, very highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Joffe Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
Helen H. Durrant has drawn a very deep and complex character in DCI Rachel King. She, fittingly, has secrets that she'd prefer to keep buried. As with the other books I've read by this author, including the first in this series, one from her 'Calladine & Bayliss' series, and one from the 'DI Harry Lennox/DS Jess Wilde' series, the intricate plot is well written. There are multiple suspects to watch, and several twists and turns that resemble a long roller coaster ride. The characters and their respective relationships are credible and I especially enjoy the way their professional and their private lives are interlaced.
This was such a gripping crime thriller that had my heart racing at times and once I had started reading, I didn't want to put it down. I was enthralled right until the great reveal, which was unexpected, to me anyway. Forgotten Victim was brilliant, highly addictive and fast-paced and I can't wait to see what treats might be in store if there is a book five. This is a must-read, very highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Joffe Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
January 10, 2021
When two young boys fall through rotten floorboards and discover a decomposing body in a hidden tunnel under a disused Manchester cotton mill, the case lands in the lap of DCI Rachel King. Identifying the body is the first hurdle to cross, since the local residents are both close-mouthed and wary of kingpins running the drug trade out of the disused mill.
With a new boss breathing down her neck and threatening to hand the case off to the cold case team, and her personal life getting more complicated by the day, Rachel’s under pressure to solve the case fast. But there are a lot of leads to follow, threads to tug on, each one only revealing a small new scrap of information. Until they realise, this wasn’t actually the first victim…
The first thing I have a problem with here is that the title is misleading. Yes, the victim was forgotten (never even reported missing) but the subtitle just doesn’t deliver. There is no massive twist. And frankly? It wasn’t all that gripping. I had my suspicions who the villain was from the first moment of his introduction. His motive was obvious, he had the means and the opportunity and… yep. That was it. All Rachel and her team had to do was join the dots and prove it. I’m not even sure what the ‘massive twist’ was supposed to be… the realisation that there’d been two murders that were connected? Not that massive a twist for a homicide squad, I’d think.
Frankly, this felt like a very ‘average’ homicide case. Person with power abuses it to kill. The concealment of the body enabled them to get away with it for a while. Then the police find out, investigate, and he’s caught. There’s never really any sense of urgency or peril; the weird sub-plot with the mystery man who kept trying to tell Rachel her parents’ death wasn’t an accident didn’t seem to lead anywhere, and with Rachel about to take extended maternity leave and apparently being replaced, the series also seems pretty dead in the water.
The writing is actually pretty good here, with excellent grammar and sentence construction, but I struggled to like Rachel or understand her motivation, and I just didn’t feel gripped by the plot at all. It was all far too predictable. I’m afraid I was thoroughly uninspired, and therefore I’m giving this two stars.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.
With a new boss breathing down her neck and threatening to hand the case off to the cold case team, and her personal life getting more complicated by the day, Rachel’s under pressure to solve the case fast. But there are a lot of leads to follow, threads to tug on, each one only revealing a small new scrap of information. Until they realise, this wasn’t actually the first victim…
The first thing I have a problem with here is that the title is misleading. Yes, the victim was forgotten (never even reported missing) but the subtitle just doesn’t deliver. There is no massive twist. And frankly? It wasn’t all that gripping. I had my suspicions who the villain was from the first moment of his introduction. His motive was obvious, he had the means and the opportunity and… yep. That was it. All Rachel and her team had to do was join the dots and prove it. I’m not even sure what the ‘massive twist’ was supposed to be… the realisation that there’d been two murders that were connected? Not that massive a twist for a homicide squad, I’d think.
Frankly, this felt like a very ‘average’ homicide case. Person with power abuses it to kill. The concealment of the body enabled them to get away with it for a while. Then the police find out, investigate, and he’s caught. There’s never really any sense of urgency or peril; the weird sub-plot with the mystery man who kept trying to tell Rachel her parents’ death wasn’t an accident didn’t seem to lead anywhere, and with Rachel about to take extended maternity leave and apparently being replaced, the series also seems pretty dead in the water.
The writing is actually pretty good here, with excellent grammar and sentence construction, but I struggled to like Rachel or understand her motivation, and I just didn’t feel gripped by the plot at all. It was all far too predictable. I’m afraid I was thoroughly uninspired, and therefore I’m giving this two stars.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.
February 22, 2023
After the decomposing remains of victim #1 are discovered, Detective Rachel King is determined to find whoever cruely left him to die in a bricked up tunnel. Later, more bodies and some serious injury victims finally come forward with a name. This was a good read.
November 10, 2020
Some young boys playing in an old mill are trying to get away from a known dealer when one of them goes through old floorboards and finds rather more than dust. A body which is almost a skeleton and the boss is tempted to pass it over to cold cases but DCI Rachel thinks it has a link to current goings on at the mill as it is clearly murder and looks like the victim has been bricked in. Rachel has her own issues- she is pregnant by old flame Jed. She hasn't told anyone other than Elwyn and isn’t sure what to do. Her ex- husband features in her girls lives as he lives next door and she has passed on a promotion because of this so there is a new rather keen boss in the wings.
Helen’s novels are always an excellent page turning read. There is a good solid plot which has been incredibly well thought out and characters that you take to. A mystery to keep the grey matter active and a smile along the way. This is one of a series and will probably stand alone but will make more sense with the main characters' history if read in order. A wonderful book that kept me very entertained.
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January 1, 2021
What a fab novel to end the year with! (I finished NYE).
I adore the character of Rachel King. I love strong but vulnerable female leads who are down to earth and lead fairly normal lives that us mere mortals can identify with. Rachel is a working mother of two (soon to be three) and is juggling a demanding career with home life. I love how she isn’t portrayed as superwoman. She relies on help from her ex-husband with whom she co-parents civilly and often finds herself struggling to give the right amount of time to both roles. She is neither a domestic goddess, super mum or the most perfect police officer and I think Durrant captured the reality of this struggle with subtle detail.
At work she has a tough case on her hands; a dead body that’s been there a while, limited clues to work with and a whole host of dodgy characters and goings on. To top it off, her on/off lover is putting the pressure on and a new boss with different values arrives and who is the mysterious stranger who claims to have some answers to Rachel’s past? Luckily, she has her devoted and sharp team to support her and pick apart the case until they get answers.
The main plot focuses on the discovery of a body in a concealed tunnel. Initially there are limited clues but the more the team scratch the surface, the more they begin to uncover. There are plenty of suspicious characters to chose from but the clues and motives are revealed in sprinkles throughout the novel making this a great ‘Who Dun It?’ kind of plot. Just when you think you’ve sussed it, something comes to light that makes you change your mind. Plenty of twists and turns to challenge thoughts.
There was always something developing so the plot never stood still and the balance between the investigation and Rachel’s personal life was perfect. It doesn’t detract from the police procedural trope but does add depth to the character’s and their lives.
A great crime read with twists and turns to keep your mind challenged.
I adore the character of Rachel King. I love strong but vulnerable female leads who are down to earth and lead fairly normal lives that us mere mortals can identify with. Rachel is a working mother of two (soon to be three) and is juggling a demanding career with home life. I love how she isn’t portrayed as superwoman. She relies on help from her ex-husband with whom she co-parents civilly and often finds herself struggling to give the right amount of time to both roles. She is neither a domestic goddess, super mum or the most perfect police officer and I think Durrant captured the reality of this struggle with subtle detail.
At work she has a tough case on her hands; a dead body that’s been there a while, limited clues to work with and a whole host of dodgy characters and goings on. To top it off, her on/off lover is putting the pressure on and a new boss with different values arrives and who is the mysterious stranger who claims to have some answers to Rachel’s past? Luckily, she has her devoted and sharp team to support her and pick apart the case until they get answers.
The main plot focuses on the discovery of a body in a concealed tunnel. Initially there are limited clues but the more the team scratch the surface, the more they begin to uncover. There are plenty of suspicious characters to chose from but the clues and motives are revealed in sprinkles throughout the novel making this a great ‘Who Dun It?’ kind of plot. Just when you think you’ve sussed it, something comes to light that makes you change your mind. Plenty of twists and turns to challenge thoughts.
There was always something developing so the plot never stood still and the balance between the investigation and Rachel’s personal life was perfect. It doesn’t detract from the police procedural trope but does add depth to the character’s and their lives.
A great crime read with twists and turns to keep your mind challenged.
December 27, 2020
I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of Forgotten Victim, the fourth novel to feature DCI Rachel King of the East Manchester Police.
Two young boys find decomposed remains in a secret tunnel in a disused mill. Various items found with the body suggest it has been there for less than three years but identifying him and a motive for his murder are more difficult tasks for Rachel and the team, especially as she’s keeping secrets of her own, namely a pregnancy that is tiring her out.
I thoroughly enjoyed Forgotten Victim which is an eventful read that held my attention from start to finish. It starts with one event, the discovery of the body, and widens out to current day attacks and another historical killing, but there is no confusion in this as the narrative is firmly in the present day and is told entirely from the investigative point of view. I like the continuity of this approach, concentrating on the investigation, and it gives logic to the strands that get pulled in and connected. I will admit that I had a prime suspect right from the start but that I got the motive totally wrong. I like the guessing involved and knowing what the team knows and nothing more makes it more fun. I also like that much of the perpetrator and motive are well disguised until a final flurry of information slots it all into place. I like the solution which put a twist on a standard motive.
Rachel King is in a difficult place personally in this novel. She is three months pregnant and the father is her old love, gangster turned legitimate businessman Jed McAteer. I’m not quite sure that I understand all her qualms about the situation as she seems uncharacteristically dithery about it, but I don’t have to cover the angles she does with children, work and an ex-husband to consider.
Forgotten Victim is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
Two young boys find decomposed remains in a secret tunnel in a disused mill. Various items found with the body suggest it has been there for less than three years but identifying him and a motive for his murder are more difficult tasks for Rachel and the team, especially as she’s keeping secrets of her own, namely a pregnancy that is tiring her out.
I thoroughly enjoyed Forgotten Victim which is an eventful read that held my attention from start to finish. It starts with one event, the discovery of the body, and widens out to current day attacks and another historical killing, but there is no confusion in this as the narrative is firmly in the present day and is told entirely from the investigative point of view. I like the continuity of this approach, concentrating on the investigation, and it gives logic to the strands that get pulled in and connected. I will admit that I had a prime suspect right from the start but that I got the motive totally wrong. I like the guessing involved and knowing what the team knows and nothing more makes it more fun. I also like that much of the perpetrator and motive are well disguised until a final flurry of information slots it all into place. I like the solution which put a twist on a standard motive.
Rachel King is in a difficult place personally in this novel. She is three months pregnant and the father is her old love, gangster turned legitimate businessman Jed McAteer. I’m not quite sure that I understand all her qualms about the situation as she seems uncharacteristically dithery about it, but I don’t have to cover the angles she does with children, work and an ex-husband to consider.
Forgotten Victim is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
December 31, 2020
This is the fourth in the Rachel King series but it can easily be read as a standalone but I would suggest reading the previous novel as some of the storyline carries over.
A couple of kids find a decomposing body entombed under the derelict Shawcross Mill. Rachel is called in to investigate but with no I.D. and residents too scared to talk she and her team have a hard job ahead of them.
Forgotten Victim is a well-written police procedural as I've come to expect from Helen H. Durrant.
I still love the character of Rachel with a personal life almost as complicated as the cases she investigates. She is still standing in the way of her own happiness and making things harder for herself as usual.
I will say I wasn't all that shocked by the culprit, but what really kept me going was finding out the killers motive, that was a bit of a surprise!
Forgotten Victim is a fast paced mystery that really pulled me and didn't let me go.
A couple of kids find a decomposing body entombed under the derelict Shawcross Mill. Rachel is called in to investigate but with no I.D. and residents too scared to talk she and her team have a hard job ahead of them.
Forgotten Victim is a well-written police procedural as I've come to expect from Helen H. Durrant.
I still love the character of Rachel with a personal life almost as complicated as the cases she investigates. She is still standing in the way of her own happiness and making things harder for herself as usual.
I will say I wasn't all that shocked by the culprit, but what really kept me going was finding out the killers motive, that was a bit of a surprise!
Forgotten Victim is a fast paced mystery that really pulled me and didn't let me go.
December 28, 2020
I love this authors style of writing and I have really enjoyed this series, this latest book being no exception. A good solid plot, the only criticism I have is that the ending was rushed and abrupt which makes me wonder if this was the last in the series, I do hope not. Thanks to Joffe Books and the author for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
January 2, 2021
Forgotten Victim by Helen Durrant is the fourth book in the Detective Rachel King series that is set in and around Manchester. DCI Rachel King and DS Elwyn Price are investigating a body sealed up in a tunnel under the floor of Shawcross Mill Ancoats, in Manchester. Two boys stumbled across it while trying to get away from someone. The injuries on ths body point to murder, so Rachel and Elwyn get the case. The victim also had a St Christopher on a chain in his hands.
The Mill was originally a cotton mill and had been used as units for different firms to try to build from. Now it is derelict and empty. The owner of the mill, is Rachels first stop. A credit card is discovered in the victims pocket also, the card belongs to Rita Pearce who runs a pub, the spinners arms. She states she lost the card three years previously and has nothing else to say. Someone knows this victim and how they died, will Rachel get to the bottom of this?
At the same time Rachel is carrying her own secret, she is pregnant and only Elwyn knows and she has to make her decisions sooner or later.
Another brilliant Helen Durrant book that grips you as always from the first page. I truly love this series, not just because it is Helen but I love the fact they are set in my home area. The fact I can visualise Ancoats so easily gives an extra interest. I really feel like I am part of the investigation. Rachel is a great character and I like how she isn't perfect, she is real and her situation could happen to anyone. These are only part of the reasons why Helen Durrant is a go-to author for me. I would be here all day if I wrote it all down! A highly recommended series that really keeps you interested and intrigued too.
Thank you to Joffe Books and Jill for the copy of the book for my review today
The Mill was originally a cotton mill and had been used as units for different firms to try to build from. Now it is derelict and empty. The owner of the mill, is Rachels first stop. A credit card is discovered in the victims pocket also, the card belongs to Rita Pearce who runs a pub, the spinners arms. She states she lost the card three years previously and has nothing else to say. Someone knows this victim and how they died, will Rachel get to the bottom of this?
At the same time Rachel is carrying her own secret, she is pregnant and only Elwyn knows and she has to make her decisions sooner or later.
Another brilliant Helen Durrant book that grips you as always from the first page. I truly love this series, not just because it is Helen but I love the fact they are set in my home area. The fact I can visualise Ancoats so easily gives an extra interest. I really feel like I am part of the investigation. Rachel is a great character and I like how she isn't perfect, she is real and her situation could happen to anyone. These are only part of the reasons why Helen Durrant is a go-to author for me. I would be here all day if I wrote it all down! A highly recommended series that really keeps you interested and intrigued too.
Thank you to Joffe Books and Jill for the copy of the book for my review today
September 22, 2020
Rachel King is back and because I love this series so much I couldn't wait for the kindle version so this is a review of the audiobook.
I am fairly new to audiobooks and audiobook reviews but I usually begin with the narration. As usual Audible have come up with a perfect narrator in Lucy Price-Lewis and I loved the way she interpreted the characters voices and was able to get across the adrenaline pumping suspense of the story.
We are now far enough into the series for me to feel I am getting to know Rachel and the relationship with Jed brings something different to the series. Totally different personalities that work together brilliantly Rachel determined to keep Jed at a distance and him determined to break down her barriers. And now she is expecting his baby. How long can she keep that secret from her team and Jed?
An then the story wow so many twists and turns.
A new boss who turns out to be the last person the team wanted or expected and not only is Rachel trying to connect the few clues she has but she is given a deadline and to make life even more difficult her new boss refuses to accept the recent death is connected to a cold case.
But if they thought Rachel could be beaten they were wrong.
Another brilliant story from a favourite author. 5 golden stars from me.
I am fairly new to audiobooks and audiobook reviews but I usually begin with the narration. As usual Audible have come up with a perfect narrator in Lucy Price-Lewis and I loved the way she interpreted the characters voices and was able to get across the adrenaline pumping suspense of the story.
We are now far enough into the series for me to feel I am getting to know Rachel and the relationship with Jed brings something different to the series. Totally different personalities that work together brilliantly Rachel determined to keep Jed at a distance and him determined to break down her barriers. And now she is expecting his baby. How long can she keep that secret from her team and Jed?
An then the story wow so many twists and turns.
A new boss who turns out to be the last person the team wanted or expected and not only is Rachel trying to connect the few clues she has but she is given a deadline and to make life even more difficult her new boss refuses to accept the recent death is connected to a cold case.
But if they thought Rachel could be beaten they were wrong.
Another brilliant story from a favourite author. 5 golden stars from me.
January 1, 2021
This is the fourth book featuring DCI Rachel King and the series is another favourite of mine. After three stories I have come to know the main characters well so the book is very easy to slip into. Rachel is a working mother of two argumentative teenage girls, student Megan and schoolgirl Mia, and has the strange living arrangement of having her ex-husband Alan living next door. Handy for childcare and home-cooked meals but sometimes she feels trapped by the past. That however looks set to change with the appearance on the scene of Alan's new girlfriend Belinda. Local crime baron turned property developer Jed McAteer is still around, now with the knowledge that he is Mia’s father and he is no longer a wanted man. Of course what he has yet to learn is that Rachel is pregnant by him again after a fling abroad. Unsure what she plans to do, Rachel has only confided in Elwyn so far. Elwyn is also a good friend to her and the only one who knows her about secret past with Jed. She is still stationed at East Manchester CID running her small loyal team of DS Elwyn Pryce and DCs Jonny Farrell and Amy Metcalfe. They are waiting to find out who is taking over from Supt Harding, and Rachel has a shock when Mark Kenton turns up to fill the post. Rachel knows him from their past overlapping cases and it immediately looks like he is going to be a pain to work for. The story begins in the disused Shawcross Mill in Ancoats where two young boys are playing in what used to be a huge cotton weaving shed. They panic when they hear the voice of Dylan "Spider” Healey, a small time local drug dealer, and in their haste to get away, fall through the rotten floor into a cellar where they find a bricked up tunnel. The tunnel is hiding a grim secret – the remains of a man’s body. It’s definitely murder, confirmed by Dr Jude Glover and Dr Jason Fox from forensics when Rachel and Elwyn arrive at the scene. The victim certainly didn’t shoot into his own knees and brick up the tunnel himself to die there. The question is who even knew the tunnel was there? Evidence at the scene and eventual identification of the man shows he was killed nearly three years ago and Kenton wants Rachel to hand the investigation over to the cold case unit but she is determined to solve this one herself. After all it might be her last for quite a while. As their enquiries proceed, taking them from a pub landlady to an ancestral home and meeting some very unsavoury characters along the way, they discover links to a group of people, all of whom seem to be lying and scared of someone. Someone who will kill to keep their secrets buried. With more lives at risk time is not on Rachel’s side as the detectives race to solve the case. As I have come to expect from this author there are loads of delicious twists and surprises in a story with great pace and an engrossing plot. This book could be read as a stand alone but I would definitely recommend reading the series in order as these characters have a lot of history between them. I really hope this is not the last we are going to hear of DCI Rachel King. Some threads have been left open including the new suspicion over the death of her parents, and I wonder if we will soon be reading a story also featuring new faces Nell and Rio? 5*
September 15, 2024
I have been a fan of this series for awhile now (and a fan of this author for even longer), but holy heck was this one a disappointment. It didn't even read like it had been written by the same author as the prior novels.
To begin with Rachel is nothing like the character we met three books ago. In this novel she finds out she is pregnant, and we spent the first half of the book with her either refusing to think about it at all, or debating on whether or not she is even going to go through with the pregnancy. Then about half-way through it is like a flip is switched and all of the sudden she is all about the baby. The same applies to her ex-boyfriend Jed. First, she is madder than a wet cat at the fact that her ex-husband has decided to sell his attached cottage to the man, and the next thing you know, she's letting him move into her house while the paperwork is finalized and potentially knocking down some diving walls to make the two cottages one large one. Huh? I felt like I was getting whiplash just from Rachel's actions alone.
She also wasn't the sharp-minded detective before either. And while she kept using the excuse of "baby brain", it got old quick. Especially when Jed is practically spelling it out to her that he was the buyer of her ex-husband's cottage and she still wasn't getting it. This "baby brain" also bled over into her abilities as a detective, missing things that seemed very obvious to me as a reader (and to other members of her team it would seem). A very disappointing turn of events for her character to be sure.
And then there was the plot. Which at first seemed interesting enough. Two lads accidentally discover a body that had been bricked up in a tunnel that it would seem no one knew about. That he had been murdered approximately three years ago added another later, how could Rachel and her team possibly figure this one out. And of course good old Keaton has returned, only this time he is a supervisor and an even bigger pain in the butt than he had been in the prior novel (something I didn't think was possible).
However, the longer the plot goes on, the more it just..... stagnates. We are repeatedly told the same information, each time the investigating team treating it like it's something new or surprising. We have a selection of dubious characters all obviously hiding something, and an utterly ridiculous side-plot of some random young man seeking Rachel out on the street and telling her that her parents car accident wasn't actually an accident. Throw a police officer from another precinct in the mix, who apparently knows all about this young man (and somehow knows exactly when he's spoken to her), but will say nothing more other than he's running a scam. A scam of what, we never do find out as this particular plot line goes absolutely nowhere. It makes me wonder if this plot point will somehow be used to drive the next book forward as when this one ends, Rachel is preparing to go out on extended maternity leave.
Overall, while this was a very disappointing installment of the series, I see that there are two other books left in the series, and at this point I might as well read them as well. I just hope they are an improvement over this one.
To begin with Rachel is nothing like the character we met three books ago. In this novel she finds out she is pregnant, and we spent the first half of the book with her either refusing to think about it at all, or debating on whether or not she is even going to go through with the pregnancy. Then about half-way through it is like a flip is switched and all of the sudden she is all about the baby. The same applies to her ex-boyfriend Jed. First, she is madder than a wet cat at the fact that her ex-husband has decided to sell his attached cottage to the man, and the next thing you know, she's letting him move into her house while the paperwork is finalized and potentially knocking down some diving walls to make the two cottages one large one. Huh? I felt like I was getting whiplash just from Rachel's actions alone.
She also wasn't the sharp-minded detective before either. And while she kept using the excuse of "baby brain", it got old quick. Especially when Jed is practically spelling it out to her that he was the buyer of her ex-husband's cottage and she still wasn't getting it. This "baby brain" also bled over into her abilities as a detective, missing things that seemed very obvious to me as a reader (and to other members of her team it would seem). A very disappointing turn of events for her character to be sure.
And then there was the plot. Which at first seemed interesting enough. Two lads accidentally discover a body that had been bricked up in a tunnel that it would seem no one knew about. That he had been murdered approximately three years ago added another later, how could Rachel and her team possibly figure this one out. And of course good old Keaton has returned, only this time he is a supervisor and an even bigger pain in the butt than he had been in the prior novel (something I didn't think was possible).
However, the longer the plot goes on, the more it just..... stagnates. We are repeatedly told the same information, each time the investigating team treating it like it's something new or surprising. We have a selection of dubious characters all obviously hiding something, and an utterly ridiculous side-plot of some random young man seeking Rachel out on the street and telling her that her parents car accident wasn't actually an accident. Throw a police officer from another precinct in the mix, who apparently knows all about this young man (and somehow knows exactly when he's spoken to her), but will say nothing more other than he's running a scam. A scam of what, we never do find out as this particular plot line goes absolutely nowhere. It makes me wonder if this plot point will somehow be used to drive the next book forward as when this one ends, Rachel is preparing to go out on extended maternity leave.
Overall, while this was a very disappointing installment of the series, I see that there are two other books left in the series, and at this point I might as well read them as well. I just hope they are an improvement over this one.
December 8, 2020
I’ve enjoyed all of the DCI Rachel King books so far. I always say that they get straight on with the action, and there are no wasted words on recapping the past books. It is one of the things I have enjoyed in the past about this series. However, this one simply wasn’t as good and had lost the perfect formula.
The crime itself was fascinating as always, but I felt like not enough of the time was devoted to this side of the story, and there was too much else going on. Rachel has her personal life with her kids and Alan (who appears to have had a complete personality change). There is her on-and-off-again relationship with Jed, and then there is another aspect added with her parent’s death from years ago. So much was being covered that it all felt rushed, and there wasn’t the time to really delve into any aspect enough for it to feel as if it were a fully-formed story.
Elwyn was being very annoying and kept repeating the same thing over and over. Rachel was trying to concentrate on the investigation, but he kept blathering on at her to sort her personal dramas out. It became monotonous. The storyline with her parent’s death felt tacked on; I’m not sure if it is a leading story for future books, but it just didn’t flow or make much sense.
The ending of the book was very rushed, and the investigation was wrapped up in record time and without much of a flourish. I was very disappointed.
This is the second Helen H. Durrant book I have read in the past couple of months, and I’m afraid her quality of writing has dropped somewhat. After the previous bad experience, I was sceptical about reading this one, but I thought I’d be safe with the Rachel King series once again as I’d enjoyed them in the past. However, I’ve decided not to read any more of this author’s books as I’m just not enjoying them anymore.
Thanks for reading! If you want to see more of my reviews visit www.pinkanddizzy.com
The crime itself was fascinating as always, but I felt like not enough of the time was devoted to this side of the story, and there was too much else going on. Rachel has her personal life with her kids and Alan (who appears to have had a complete personality change). There is her on-and-off-again relationship with Jed, and then there is another aspect added with her parent’s death from years ago. So much was being covered that it all felt rushed, and there wasn’t the time to really delve into any aspect enough for it to feel as if it were a fully-formed story.
Elwyn was being very annoying and kept repeating the same thing over and over. Rachel was trying to concentrate on the investigation, but he kept blathering on at her to sort her personal dramas out. It became monotonous. The storyline with her parent’s death felt tacked on; I’m not sure if it is a leading story for future books, but it just didn’t flow or make much sense.
The ending of the book was very rushed, and the investigation was wrapped up in record time and without much of a flourish. I was very disappointed.
This is the second Helen H. Durrant book I have read in the past couple of months, and I’m afraid her quality of writing has dropped somewhat. After the previous bad experience, I was sceptical about reading this one, but I thought I’d be safe with the Rachel King series once again as I’d enjoyed them in the past. However, I’ve decided not to read any more of this author’s books as I’m just not enjoying them anymore.
Thanks for reading! If you want to see more of my reviews visit www.pinkanddizzy.com
October 18, 2021
A Malaga bonus.
Detective Rachel King grows on you, she is stubborn, dedicated, empathetic and a workaholic.
She is back in contact with the love of her life, Jed. They first got together whilst at university, she was determined to become a police officer and Jed got involved in criminal activities. She had to choose - her dream career or her criminal lover. The career won, but Rachel met Alan !series her after a whirlwind romance, found out she was pregnant and was uncertain as to who was the father. After the baby's birth, it was obvious she was Jed's daughter. Alan never knew and her two daughters grew up thinking he was father of birth.
Eventually she and Alan divorced, but lived next door to each other to share childcare.
Then on her last case she met up with Jed again. He had gone straight and was now a respected businessman. The old attraction was still there and they ended up in bed together.
The resulting pregnancy stuns her, heading for her fortieth birthday, this was not something she had even considered.
Up to her eyes on a complicated murder case, which throws a new curve every day, she throws herself into work.
Elwyn her work partner, insists she must tell Jed about the baby, but she keeps putting it off, using work as an excuse not to see him.
The case isn't getting any easier, a dead body in a sealed tunnel murdered three years previously, now two other bodies and one attempted murder - all shot with the same gun.
Both personal and professional Ives are a mess - will she manage to solve both?
A very good read you certainly don't get bored, but there is enough clarity to make this a loo and tea break only interruptions.
Detective Rachel King grows on you, she is stubborn, dedicated, empathetic and a workaholic.
She is back in contact with the love of her life, Jed. They first got together whilst at university, she was determined to become a police officer and Jed got involved in criminal activities. She had to choose - her dream career or her criminal lover. The career won, but Rachel met Alan !series her after a whirlwind romance, found out she was pregnant and was uncertain as to who was the father. After the baby's birth, it was obvious she was Jed's daughter. Alan never knew and her two daughters grew up thinking he was father of birth.
Eventually she and Alan divorced, but lived next door to each other to share childcare.
Then on her last case she met up with Jed again. He had gone straight and was now a respected businessman. The old attraction was still there and they ended up in bed together.
The resulting pregnancy stuns her, heading for her fortieth birthday, this was not something she had even considered.
Up to her eyes on a complicated murder case, which throws a new curve every day, she throws herself into work.
Elwyn her work partner, insists she must tell Jed about the baby, but she keeps putting it off, using work as an excuse not to see him.
The case isn't getting any easier, a dead body in a sealed tunnel murdered three years previously, now two other bodies and one attempted murder - all shot with the same gun.
Both personal and professional Ives are a mess - will she manage to solve both?
A very good read you certainly don't get bored, but there is enough clarity to make this a loo and tea break only interruptions.
December 29, 2020
Well, this is a really tough mystery to crack - I had no idea who the baddie was until all was revealed!
When a body is found in an old mill, Rachel King and her team have their work cut out for them. With the evidence pointing at the body having been shot in both knees, it turns into a murder investigation. They need answers to their questions, but with locals either unwilling to talk or only telling untruths, their work becomes much more complex. They have a plethora of unanswered questions and the only way to get results is through dogged police work. At the same time, Rachel has to deal with her surprise pregnancy which she has been ignoring - and if she doesn't make decisions now, it will be too late as her condition will be obvious to all . . .
Helen H. Durrant has a wonderful grasp of what makes compulsive reading! There are no shortage of suspects in this one - at one time or another I've had just about every character in the frame for murder. Slowly, and by working their socks off, the truth begins to emerge but some very clever writing keeps the revelation until almost the very end. I love that the crime aspect of the story takes precedence over the private lives of the characters; there is just enough information to make them human and not so much as to take over from the mystery. I also appreciate that the only information in preceding books in the series is what is pertinent to this tale, meaning that at some point (when I find out how to elasticate time), I can return to read the earlier one. A thoroughly gripping novel, easily earning all five sparkling stars.
When a body is found in an old mill, Rachel King and her team have their work cut out for them. With the evidence pointing at the body having been shot in both knees, it turns into a murder investigation. They need answers to their questions, but with locals either unwilling to talk or only telling untruths, their work becomes much more complex. They have a plethora of unanswered questions and the only way to get results is through dogged police work. At the same time, Rachel has to deal with her surprise pregnancy which she has been ignoring - and if she doesn't make decisions now, it will be too late as her condition will be obvious to all . . .
Helen H. Durrant has a wonderful grasp of what makes compulsive reading! There are no shortage of suspects in this one - at one time or another I've had just about every character in the frame for murder. Slowly, and by working their socks off, the truth begins to emerge but some very clever writing keeps the revelation until almost the very end. I love that the crime aspect of the story takes precedence over the private lives of the characters; there is just enough information to make them human and not so much as to take over from the mystery. I also appreciate that the only information in preceding books in the series is what is pertinent to this tale, meaning that at some point (when I find out how to elasticate time), I can return to read the earlier one. A thoroughly gripping novel, easily earning all five sparkling stars.
January 5, 2021
When two young boys messing around in an old cotton mill discover the body of a man, sealed up in a tunnel under the floor the case is passed to DCI Rachel King and her DS, Elwyn Price for investigation.
The boys had made the discovery whilst trying to get away from a local drug pusher doing a deal in the derelict Shawcross Mill.
The injuries to the body point to murder, a credit card belonging to Rita Pearce who runs the nearby pub is found in the victims pocket.
Rita claims to have lost her card 3 years previous and has nothing else to add.
Someone must know the victim and why he was killed and entombed in the old mill.
Could it be a drug related killing or something else entirely.
With Rachels new boss Mark Kenton pushing to hand the case over to another team Rachel and Elwyn have their work cut out working their way through a host of suspects their lines of inquiry throw up.
No-one is talking and when suspects start being attacked or turning up dead Rachel and the team find themselves digging into the past to discover the identity of the killer.
With Rachels personal life at a crossroads I hope this isnt going to be the last in this series as I have thoroughly enjoyed all 4 of them and look forward to reading more.
Thanks to Joffe books for the chance to read this as an ARC.
The boys had made the discovery whilst trying to get away from a local drug pusher doing a deal in the derelict Shawcross Mill.
The injuries to the body point to murder, a credit card belonging to Rita Pearce who runs the nearby pub is found in the victims pocket.
Rita claims to have lost her card 3 years previous and has nothing else to add.
Someone must know the victim and why he was killed and entombed in the old mill.
Could it be a drug related killing or something else entirely.
With Rachels new boss Mark Kenton pushing to hand the case over to another team Rachel and Elwyn have their work cut out working their way through a host of suspects their lines of inquiry throw up.
No-one is talking and when suspects start being attacked or turning up dead Rachel and the team find themselves digging into the past to discover the identity of the killer.
With Rachels personal life at a crossroads I hope this isnt going to be the last in this series as I have thoroughly enjoyed all 4 of them and look forward to reading more.
Thanks to Joffe books for the chance to read this as an ARC.
April 14, 2021
This is the fourth book in the series featuring Detective Rachel King. I must admit I haven’t read the first three books but enjoyed this as a stand-alone. The book opens with two young boys playing in an old disused cotton mill. They hear the voice of a local drug dealer and as they run to hide from him they fall through some rotten floorboards into a cellar with a bricked up tunnel. They then discover the remains of a man’s body. Rachel and DS Elwyn Price are sent to investigate and soon realise that the man was murdered three years previously, but who knew the tunnel was there? A credit card found on the victim leads them to a pub landlady, an ancestral home and links to people who are lying as they are afraid of their lives. In Rachel’s personal life we discover that she is three months pregnant to an ex boyfriend who was a gangster, but she hasn’t told anyone yet, not even him. This is a fast paced and intense thriller, with tension and suspense. A highly recommended read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Joffe Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
Thanks to Netgalley and Joffe Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
December 18, 2020
I really enjoyed the mystery plot which was very clean, precise, and easy to follow. Maybe this is why I figured out who the killer was pretty early on in the story. However, it did take me a little longer to figure out why the victim was murdered.
As a first time reader of this series, I had some trouble fully understanding the relationships in the book. In addition to the people involved in the mystery, there were a lot of characters to keep track of... Rachel, her lover, ex-husband, colleagues, DS Elwyn, among others. I’m really curious about DS Elwyn because he was annoyingly nursemaiding Rachel throughout the book.
Another puzzling part of the plot was a mystery man who would arbitrarily appear to warn Rachel that her parent’s accident wasn’t as it seemed. I’m guessing this is a hint to something in the next book, but it was a little odd and misplaced in the storyline.
I recommend this book to readers who like a mystery series with a nice clean mystery plot. 3.5/5
As a first time reader of this series, I had some trouble fully understanding the relationships in the book. In addition to the people involved in the mystery, there were a lot of characters to keep track of... Rachel, her lover, ex-husband, colleagues, DS Elwyn, among others. I’m really curious about DS Elwyn because he was annoyingly nursemaiding Rachel throughout the book.
Another puzzling part of the plot was a mystery man who would arbitrarily appear to warn Rachel that her parent’s accident wasn’t as it seemed. I’m guessing this is a hint to something in the next book, but it was a little odd and misplaced in the storyline.
I recommend this book to readers who like a mystery series with a nice clean mystery plot. 3.5/5
December 4, 2020
Detective Rachel # 4
FORGOTTEN. VICTIM..Helen Durrant
Rachel and Elwyn are in the basement of an old mill, the body the two boys had found. Seemed he had been shot and bricked in to die. Newspaper was under and he was clutching a St Christopher pendant.
The boys were running from someone and wouldn’t say who, is how they fell through the rotten boards, When interviewing the boys the mother knew, a kid selling drugs.
Mark Kenton will be the new supernatural and wondering why she didn’t apply. Rachel is twelve weeks pregnant and hasn’t even told the father or them at the station, decision needed to be made she wanted to do so before telling. First thing tell her ex, he beat her to it by his announcement .
Pressure to close the case, and decisions at home, good Series.
Given ARC for my voluntary review and my voluntary
FORGOTTEN. VICTIM..Helen Durrant
Rachel and Elwyn are in the basement of an old mill, the body the two boys had found. Seemed he had been shot and bricked in to die. Newspaper was under and he was clutching a St Christopher pendant.
The boys were running from someone and wouldn’t say who, is how they fell through the rotten boards, When interviewing the boys the mother knew, a kid selling drugs.
Mark Kenton will be the new supernatural and wondering why she didn’t apply. Rachel is twelve weeks pregnant and hasn’t even told the father or them at the station, decision needed to be made she wanted to do so before telling. First thing tell her ex, he beat her to it by his announcement .
Pressure to close the case, and decisions at home, good Series.
Given ARC for my voluntary review and my voluntary
December 28, 2020
We are now far enough into the series for me to feel I am getting to know Rachel and the relationship with Jed brings something different to the series. Totally different personalities that work together brilliantly Rachel determined to keep Jed at a distance and him determined to break down her barriers. And now she is expecting his baby. How long can she keep that secret from her team and Jed?
An then the story wow so many twists and turns.
A new boss who turns out to be the last person the team wanted or expected and not only is Rachel trying to connect the few clues she has but she is given a deadline and to make life even more difficult her new boss refuses to accept the recent death is connected to a cold case.
But if they thought Rachel could be beaten they were wrong.
Another brilliant story from a favourite author. 5 golden stars from me.
An then the story wow so many twists and turns.
A new boss who turns out to be the last person the team wanted or expected and not only is Rachel trying to connect the few clues she has but she is given a deadline and to make life even more difficult her new boss refuses to accept the recent death is connected to a cold case.
But if they thought Rachel could be beaten they were wrong.
Another brilliant story from a favourite author. 5 golden stars from me.
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