Times Like These

Inspector Marco #4

by Stephen Puleston

After the brutal killing of a sexual predator a mutilated corpse is discovered. But with Cardiff emerging from lockdown can Detective Marco stop more deaths?The body of man involved in two failed prosecutions for sexual violence is dumped on a secluded road. Marco has to face criticism from a community appalled by the failure of the police. When the mutilated body of a man with no suspected links to sexual offences is discovered Marco is convinced one killer is at work.

But his superiors disagree. A profiler, insisted on by Marco’s Superintendent, only adds to his frustration. Can Marco win the day? After two more deaths Marco realises how all the threads pull together and who might be the final victim of the killer intent on gruesome revenge. The world might have been locked away and policing very different, but DI John Marco knows that behind closed doors, the bad guys have merely been waiting patiently for their moment to strike.

Faced with his own weaknesses he challenges himself to finish the case as he races to avert the final death.

Times Like These is the fourth book in the fast-paced Inspector Marco series based in Cardiff. If you like clever mysteries and gripping page-turners then you’ll love Stephen Puleston’s Detective Marco series.

Genres: Audiobook, Contemporary

298 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 20, 2020

About the author

I write mysteries and thrillers.

I have published the first novel in a series featuring Inspector Drake based in North Wales and also the first in a series with Inspector John Marco based in Cardiff. The first Drake mystery is called BRASS IN POCKET and the second WORSE THAN DEAD. The third, AGAINST THE TIDE.

My second detective is Inspector Marco who comes from an Italian/Welsh background and he lives in Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. The first Inspector Marco novel SPEECHLESS has been published on Amazon and the second and third in the series will be published in 2015.

Before turning to crime fiction I had written three other unpublished novels and you can read about my writing and about Wales, one of the most beautiful countries in the world, on my website http://www.stephenpuleston.co.uk/

I was brought up on the Isle of Anglesey, off the North Wales coast and went to school in Holyhead. After a degree in Theology from London University I decided to train as a lawyer and returned to work in the practice run by my father on Anglesey. For many years I worked as a lawyer in a small practice representing clients in the criminal courts and doing divorce work all of which has given me valuable raw material for my novels.

I still live and work in North Wales where the Inspector Drake novels are set.
You can contact me on twitter @stephenpuleston or @inspector_marco
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/17G6iIA

Reviews

[Kathi Defranc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fabulous story about the adventures of Inspector John Marco, an honest, hard working man who recently decided he was done drinking to bring himself peace after his gritty investigations, as he was turning to the bottle too often. He is divorced,knowing time away from his wife and son due to his job took it's toll, and finds his team thrown into a new, particularly brutal murder. The team investigates thoroughly, and Marco's intuition and years of street smarts help determine that the victim was hit by a car, then run over a few times...Definitely seems it was someone who knew him, and delving into the man's past finds several cases of alleged rapes that never made it to prosecution! Soon there is another murder..And although the Boss doesn't see any relation between the two, Inspector Marco has a gut feeling they Are related...
With fantastic, well researched characters, amazing description of scenes, and a little look into the private life of the Inspector, who just can't ever turn off his scheming mind, this story grabs you immediately and takes you through the twists, surprises and thrills of a homicide team. A spark of interest in a woman has Inspector Marco traveling with a slight jump in his steps and a little happiness in his mind!! A 5 STAR story that will have you swiftly turning pages and trying to put the clues together yourself, enjoying your time in the country of Wales, until the fantastic ending.
I received an ARC from the author, who I thank for a superb read with one of my favorite inspector's, and I offer You my honest thoughts and feelings in this review.

[Linda Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first body found is that of a man with links to organized crime. He's also been prosecuted twice for assault on a woman, but charges were dropped.

Then another man is found murdered in a brutal way. There's no evident of any connection with the first victim, but he, too, has possible ties to organized crime ... and he also has been accused of crimes against women.

And yet another body .... and DI Marco is absolutely certain that a serial killer is at work. But have these men crossed someone they shouldn't have? Or is it the assaults that have gone unpunished?

And the bodies don't end there. A kidnapping has taken place ... another man ... and Marco and his team must work hard and fast if they don't want to see another mutilated body.

As all the books in this series, it's well written, action-packed and full of twists and turns to keep the reader riveted to the story. Suspense begins with the first page and steadily increases until the final page-turning conclusion. The characters are outstanding and relate to each other with humor, and always with a : I've got your back : attitude. Although 4th in the series, this is easily read as a stand-alone, but I highly recommend reading them in order.

Many thanks to the author / Books 'n All Book Promotions for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

[Pete · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stephen Puleston can always be relied upon to produce solidly written books, and this one is no exception, being an exciting police procedural, made relevant by being set at the tail end of the first wave of the Covid 19 pandemic.
Marco is an excellent, believable, character. He has his faults, being an alcoholic being the main one, but this is dealt with in a sensitive, fairly low-key way without any unplanned drinking sessions, but also emphasizing the ongoing effect this illness has. He is also not great at mundane matters, like PR, he prefers to be on the front line, putting in the hard graft to solve crimes and get criminals put away. He is also not immune to an attractive lady, and he definitely shows interest in a couple of the other characters in this story.
The story is satisfyingly complex, with the number of murders gradually creeping up, but are they linked and is there a serial killer in the area? Marco and his team must unravel lots of clues and do a lot of digging to eventually solve the case.
This is certainly a page turner and it kept my attention right to the end, I highly recommend it.
I did receive an advance copy of this book, but have voluntarily written this honest review.

[Denise Zendel · Rating 5 out of 5]

People who have been prosecuted for sexual assault start turning up dead in gruesome ways. Their only commonality was victims that were served by the same support organization Could victims, frustrated by the perceived lack of support from the Wales Police Service, be taking the law into their own hands, or is something more complicated occurring? DI John Marco and his team must sift through tons of clues to find the bad guys and bring justice to those harmed.

I like DI Marco. He’s a complicated, flawed character (recovering alcoholic, dedicated to The Job and justice, sometimes at the expense of his family) who struggles with the limitations of his job and his desire to right wrongs. I enjoyed the topical plot - the rise in domestic violence during the pandemic – and how Puleston addressed the elephant in the room by acknowledging the pandemic and the changes it has wrought without beating people over the head. I thought this book had a nice balance of mystery, red herrings, day-to-day life, and romance. Marco has a new girlfriend (a police officer), one I hope sticks around for a while.

You can read this series out of order, as the author provides enough backstory to keep up. I find these books better read in order, however; it makes the reading experience richer and more enjoyable. I am a huge fan of DI Marco and his crew, and hope he’s around for a long time.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a fan of Stephen’s work for a while now. I haven’t actually caught up with everything he has written, but I do keep pace with his new releases and when I am able to, I read one of his earlier books. ‘Times Like These’ is the fourth book in the series featuring Detective Inspector John Marco. It really is another cracking addition to a fantastic series and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it but more about that in a bit.
It didn’t take me long at all to get into ‘Times Like These’. In fact as soon as I started reading the first page, I knew that I would find it increasingly difficult to put the book to one side for any length of time. I took to the character of Marco from the start and I had to keep reading to see how the story panned out and if Marco caught the perpetrator. At times I couldn’t turn the pages quick enough. I did try to ration how much I read in one go but because I was so desperate to find out what happened that my attempts at rationing were thrown out of the window. I read ‘Times Like These’ over the course of a single day which is good going for me.
‘Times Like These’ is superbly written but then I think that to be true of Stephen’s books in general. He grabs your attention from the start and draws you into the story. Once he has your attention, he will not let you have it back until the moment you read the last word on the last page. For me, the story was perfectly paced- the story started with a bang and from then on maintained a fairly fast pace. I smugly thought that I had fathomed out who was who and what was going to happen next but then Stephen threw a curveball into the story and ended up sending me down another path entirely. I felt as though I was part of the story myself and that’s thanks to Stephen’s very vivid and realistic storytelling. I was gripped by the story and on the edge of my seat throughout.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Times Like These’ and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Stephen’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

[MS Meagher · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book of the Inspector Marco series that I've read, having been given a free BookFunnel copy in return for a review.

Overall a good police procedural, set during the Covid Pandemic in Cardiff, both of which made it a little different from the run of the mill fare. Marco himself is an interesting and well-rounded character. It did seem a little obvious as to "whodunnit" but it was enjoyable nonetheless - despite the narrator's really appalling Irish and French accents! Having said that, if you're not Irish/French, or don't speak French, maybe it wouldn't be evident, as I'm not seeing many other comments in that regard.

I enjoyed Marco, and would definitely read more in the series, but I'll probably get the Kindle version.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

AUDIOBOOK

Another great audio set on my doorstep this time focusing on a serial killer who seems to be taking the law into their own hands and playing vigilante in a most gruesome way. It would also seem that my home town is full of some very dodgy characters (this could well be true lol)z I loved the blink and you’d miss it mention to Drake as well. This audio does not disappoint and it’s an exciting story which really makes you think about the morals of the story

[Caroline 'relaxing with my rescue dogs' · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have just finished the audio version which was so good. The story was brilliant, the narration so suited it.

This was such a difficult story line but very apt and did not get skimp on details either male or female domestic violence.

I have to read/listen to more and catch up.

[Alyson Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the fourth in the detective series set in Cardiff, South Wales, featuring and narrated by DI John Marco. Life has been turbulent for Marco in the past, what with his drinking, unruly behaviour and split from wife Jackie and son Dean,, but now he has things on a more even keel. He is cleaner, tidier and more importantly, sober. Things are also starting to look up in the country, post-pandemic although always with the threat of another wave. The businesses that survived are starting to get back on track, but covid has left a path of devastation including higher unemployment and more cruelly, a vast increase in domestic violence reports emerging after the end of lockdown. Certain groups, such as the charity DependAssist, and some sections of the media are blaming the Wales Police Service, the courts and the CPS for an alarmingly low arrest and prosecution rate. In fact as the story begins, Marco himself, part of the Serious Crime Unit, has been volunteered to attend the Cardiff Domestic Violence Taskforce by his boss Supt Cornock. It’s not really his thing and, although he spies a rather attractive DC he’d like to get to know better, he is almost relieved to be called away to a murder scene. The body of a man, identified as Frank Armsby, has been dumped behind the bins at a builders’ merchants, a spot deserted at night. Badly beaten, it emerges he had been run over more than once, and it transpires he was already well known to the police. A nasty piece of work, he had got off two previous rape charges, one dismissed by the judge and one where he was acquitted, and very recently the CPS had dropped the charges in a third case. There would surely be no shortage of suspects, including an angry victim who did not get her day in court, and that is before Marco, assisted by DS Lydia Flint, discovers Armsby was an accountant who was none too fussy who he worked for. Word from one of Marco’s informants provides them with another strong line of enquiry. It is not long before the detectives have a second murder case on their hands, but this time very different in its nature. A man has been horribly killed and mutilated in what looks like a hate-fuelled attack with a message left by the perpetrator. This time the victim appears to have led a blameless life until Marco discovers a link to the first victim and starts to wonder if the same killer is responsible for both deaths, despite their huge differences. Two cases means he gets extra resources in the form of DC Wyn Nuttall and some rather unwanted help from a profiler. The team plough through the usual rounds of house to house enquiries, cctv and other witness interviews with forensics providing little in the way of helpful clues. Still baffled, more murder victims turn up and suddenly the horrifying pieces of the jigsaw start to come together, but it is still a frantic race for the team as the enormity of the killer’s plan dawns on them.
I was surprised the charity advertised itself as being for women victims, since these days there is far more recognition that men can just as easily be the target of domestic violence and sexual assault. I liked that the story was set “post-pandemic”, the first one I have seen like this, where instead of the minefield of rules and restrictions that an author would have to cope with, it displays more hopefulness that things are starting to improve, whilst still retaining a nod to the fact that covid existed.
I really like Marco, a very human and “real” person. He is dogged and determined to catch the bad guys and achieve justice, and has a great team of clever junior detectives in Lydia and Wyn. This is an excellent police procedural with a great plot, smashing satisfying conclusion and very realistic believable characters. 5*

[Books 'n' All Promotions · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was thrilled to find out that Stephen had written a new addition to the Inspector Marco series as I do love Marco. The book more than lived up to expectations.

A gruesome killing with several motives. Clues point towards a gangland killing but Marco is not convinced. Unfortunately his superiors are leaning towards the gangland theory. Is Marco losing his touch? Then there is another death.

This is a very intriguing read I really had no idea who was responsible and there are so many red herrings and dead ends. Are the deaths connected and if so what connects them.

As more bodies turn up all clues point to an horrific crime many years ago one which was not reported. Can Marco catch the culprit before anyone else dies?

Marco seems to have really turned his life around although people are concerned that this case may force him to reach for the bottle again. Can he resist?

An absolutely gripping page-turner that will appeal to anyone who likes a good detective story.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note: While this is book 4 in the series, it works just fine as a stand-alone novel.

I really enjoyed the pervious book in this series, but I enjoyed this book even more. I think it’s because it deals with such a serious subject: sexual assault and how the Welsh justice system is just not built to adequately meet out justice in these cases. The plot shines a light on the bigger problem even as Inspector Marco races to find the killer.

As for John Marco himself, he’s getting his life together one step at a time. It really took me some time to warm up to Marco in this series but now here we are in book 4 and I appreciate the character arc from angry, selfish, inefficient drunk to sober, caring, go-getter. In this book, he’s doing great with his son Dean and his mom has not-so-secret hopes that John might rekindle something with his ex-wife (and Dean’s mom).

The plot was intriguing and fast-paced while also allowing some serious nods to the heavier subject. One sexual predator after another is found dead but finding out how exactly they are connected is a bit challenging at first. Eventually, a video is found and this gives Marco some hints even as it fuels his fire to solve this case… and yet there’s some underlying conflict. These victims were also sexual predators and their known victims didn’t get much justice. So are we seeing some vigilante justice or a vicious serial killer? Now Marco has already chosen his side, since he’s police. He can’t get behind some vigilante justice even as he sympathizes with the past known victims. This underlying philosophical conflict made the story intense for me.

The story ramps up as Marco gets closer to identifying the killer and then there’s capturing the killer before a final victim is claimed. It does make me wonder if the killer had not been captured, would they have stopped after their list was done or would they have gone on to hunt other sexual predators. While I was always rooting for Marco, I also wanted justice for those that survived sexual assault… and the current justice system doesn’t allow for both at this point. All together, it was a compelling read. 5/5 stars.

The Narration: Joseph Tweedale did a great job with this story. He’s got the perfect voice for Inspector Marco and I also like his female character voices. Tweedale also handled the variety of emotions present in this story with the serious subject. The pacing was perfect and there were no tech issues with the recording. 5/5 stars.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are 100% my own.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Marcos is an Inspector in the Wales Police. He and his partner get all the murder calls. This one is gruesome, someone was tied down and tortured by having bits cut off, then shot. There have been several cases in Cardiff where rapes have been reported, gone to trial but the accused has gotten off with little or no punishment. Many people are angry. The first place they investigate is the rape crisis center. Marcos is not happy with the interviews because he thinks the victim being interviewed is lying. He is able to keep his personal life separate from his police job. He has given up alcohol, divorced his wife, and stays in touch with his son. He is a likable guy. The author writes great police thrillers all taking place in Wales. I have read them all and highly recommend this book, the Marco series and the DI Drake series. They are all excellent.

[Carol Butler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 4th DI Marco book and I'm warming to him now, he was or is still an alcoholic but is now dry, and divorced and has a new relationship in his life. His character is down to earth his problems are the same as anybody else's but now dry he has a sharp brain and a good team to work with him.
Written by Stephen Pulston during the covid pandemic and the story starts as we are emerging from the 1st lockdown when a 2nd murder victim is found and like the 1st the police failed miserably for the women concerned who never saw justice, and Marco seems to be getting the backlash. The bodies have been mutilated and Marco is sure they are committed by the same perpetrator and thinks maybe times 2 but the top brass thinks different.
This is definitely a page-turner but for me, I have the audio version and is bought to life by the narrator Joseph Tweedale great voice.

[Sandra Leivesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favourite book so far in this great series. It is set towards the end of the first Covid lockdown when things are starting to get back to normal and DI John Marco has a series of murders to investigate involving sexual predators. The case is fairly complicated, moves at a fast pace and kept me guessing all the way through. Stephen Puleston writes very believable, realistic characters and Marco continues to evolve as the series continues, and I like the relationship he has with his work partner, Lydia, and the rest of the team. It also seems that things are looking brighter for him romantically too.

Although Covid is mentioned this is not a book about the pandemic, though it has obviously left it's mark with more unemployment, businesses suffering, and more domestic violence. The title 'Times Like These' is very appropriate and the words are spoken by several characters throughout the book. I also appreciated the mention of DI Drake in this book too :-)

The narration by Joseph Tweedale was spot on, and I can't wait for Book 5!

[Aileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Times Like These
By Stephen Puleston

This is the first time I’ve read Inspector John Marco books and it won’t be the last. I particular liked him and his quirky sense of humour.
Set in the current Coronavirus situation it starts with the finding of a body the story carries on with an extremely clever storyline, which was well researched and brilliantly executed. It was so full of twists and turns I couldn’t work out who the murderer was.
I particularly like Stephen Puleston’s books because he has an amazing talent for description and you can almost find yourself gazing over the Welsh countryside.
I enjoyed it so much that I have bought the previous 3 books, and look forward to reading them. Very highly recommended.

[Book Monitor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this via Book Funnel having received a free copy.
This is the 4th book in the Marco series and they are definitely worth reading or listening to. John Marco and his team have a series of murders to investigate in Cardiff, and it isn't even clear if they are linked. Is it linked to organised crime, related to domestic violence? or something darker and more depraved?
The story is fast paced and it isn't obvious (at least to me) where it is going to go. There are some references to torture and some gory deaths, but these are fully in the context of the story and not gratuitous.
The narration by Joseph Tweedale is very good although he doesn't always do as well with women's voices.
If you like police procedurals then you can't go wrong with this one.
Overall 4 Stars
Narration 4 Stars
Story 3.5 Stars

[Vanessa Krushner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this one and the narrator was excellent.
This is the first book I have listened to that deals with a city coming out of the Covid pandemic and it felt very natural.
Detective Marco is called to a particularly horrendous killing of a sexual predator This predator has stood trial twice and been released both times when the law could not prove him guilty, and he isn’t the only one.
Marco knows that the public have a low opinion of the police and their lack of ability to bring this man and others like him to justice, so he is determined to understand what is behind this and subsequent murders.
I always enjoy Stephen Puleston books and this one is no exception

[Gareth Jagger]

My oh my another brilliant book in the Inspector Marco series.
There are killings all over Cardiff and Inspector Marco and his team are out to bring the killer to justice. But is it a serial killer? I am not go into spoil it for you!
The plot is fast paced and of the highest quality. The characters, as always, are really believable.
The plot is based in Cardiff which is different but interesting to the reader.
This is the third book in the series I have read and can highly recommend it.

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the 4th outing for inspector Marco. Set against the backdrop of the Covid pandemic, Marco and his team investigate the murders of a number of men that may, or may not be connected.

I'll freely admit I didn't like John Marco in the first book but he's really grown on me now as he tries to juggle the case with a possible new romance and doing the right thing by his son Dean. i did guess who the killers were earlier than I normally do with Stephen's books but this didn't lessen my enjoyment as it's always nice to be proved right from time to time.

[Rubina Savage · Rating 5 out of 5]

A long awaited fourth book about Inspector John Marco, a workaholic who is fighting his addiction to alcohol.

I wasnt, initially, sure I wanted to read a story set during the pandemic ( reading is my escape) but fortunately it was only mentioned in passing.

Puleston never disappoints. His characters are well drawn and story compulsive.
If you haven't read his books about Marco or Drake give them a try, you won't be disappointed.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best in the series so far

I found myself enjoying this installment in the Detective John Marco series a great deal. The editing needs a little work,but overlooking that I found the plot kept me guessing & there were times that I didn't want to put it down,but continue on to the next chapter. This book gave a little more insight into Marcos personal life & his struggles with sobriety. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series .

[Doreen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

Terrific police procedural by DI Marco, member of WPS in southern Wales! It is set in fall during Covid Pandemic so methods are very different! He is handling murders of men who are all sexual predators! Lots of confusion, few clues, and escalation in murders makes a solution soon vital! Terrific ending!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A complex and intriguing murder mystery that kept me guessing. This case filled me with horror and sadness alike with many characters playing vital roles. John Marco is good at deciphering the clues and solving the crime. It’s nice to see splashes of off-duty John Marco and I’m excited to see what the future holds in his love life.

[Bethany Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book in the DI Marco series. A murdered man is found in a builders merchants and then another man is killed in what looks like a very personal attack. With two totally different MO's are they connected in any way. When the body count continues to rise, Marco is convinced the murders are linked. With some of the victims having failed prosecutions for sexual violence could this be the link? In his usual way Marco throws himself into the case. The story is fast paced and moves the story along so you want to know what has happened. I would definitely recommend this book (and series).

[Simon Leonard · Rating 5 out of 5]

You always know where you stand when Stephen starts writing a new DI Marco book and this one did not disappoint. There was lots of murders, a very good serial killer and DI Marco investigating thoroughly and getting the job done.

I always get really engrossed in Stephens books and this one was the same with enough twists to keepe guessing all the way through.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fast paced investigation by Inspector Marco

Good plot, great teamwork by the Welsh police detectives led by Inspector John Marco make for an entertaining read. The first novel I have read written in the post Covid crisis period in Wales. Made it a very timely story.
Some gruesome violent situations.

[Steve Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you

Gosh I really enjoyed that !! Being from south wakes I think I slightly prefer the darkly gritty Marco to Drake in the north Wales books . Cracking story tight well written great characters
Read all of this guys books he never disappoints

[Joan Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thriller

What a read thrilling to the end I totally enjoyed the plot and how the twist and turns had you thinking different scenarios well done Stephen really had me on the edge of my chair

[m sunny pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good reading

Excellent series...have read all four of them..I read a lot of police procedure books and these are right on par...kept me interested thru out and couldn't guess the endings which is unusual for me...

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loving this series and yes stand alone but how can you resist the rest?
Audiobooks are fab & so worth listening to with narrators like this.
Get yourself a treat & enjoy these books by Stephen Puleston.