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City criminals get more than they bargained for when they stumble into rural DCI Jack Harris’ patch
When a pair of hen harriers return to nest in the grouse moors of the northern Pennines, Detective Jack Harris is as eager as most to protect the rare birds.
But when a bird watcher on a vigil is shot dead, the locals are up in arms. The landowner and organizer of shooting on the nearby hills is the target of their suspicion and ire.
With the community divided, DCI Jack Harris must tread a fine line investigating the murder. As he delves into the cloudy affairs of the victim, the owner of a freight company, he realizes much more is at stake.
It is one thing to get the facts straight, another to bring the perpetrator to justice. That requires delicate handling but Harris has a habit of letting his maverick streak get the better of him.
The detective has a big target in his sights. Will he take the risk?
When a pair of hen harriers return to nest in the grouse moors of the northern Pennines, Detective Jack Harris is as eager as most to protect the rare birds.
But when a bird watcher on a vigil is shot dead, the locals are up in arms. The landowner and organizer of shooting on the nearby hills is the target of their suspicion and ire.
With the community divided, DCI Jack Harris must tread a fine line investigating the murder. As he delves into the cloudy affairs of the victim, the owner of a freight company, he realizes much more is at stake.
It is one thing to get the facts straight, another to bring the perpetrator to justice. That requires delicate handling but Harris has a habit of letting his maverick streak get the better of him.
The detective has a big target in his sights. Will he take the risk?
161 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 26, 2020
162 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
About the author
John Dean
133 books82 followersJohn Dean is a freelance journalist who has runs his own business and draws heavily on his years as a crime reporter for newspapers and magazines to create his novels.
He is a member of the Crime Writers’ Association and cites Sherlock Holmes as his all-time favorite detective. He lives in the South West of Scotland.
(Also writes under the pseudonym John Stanley)
Librarian's note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
He is a member of the Crime Writers’ Association and cites Sherlock Holmes as his all-time favorite detective. He lives in the South West of Scotland.
(Also writes under the pseudonym John Stanley)
Librarian's note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
December 22, 2020
Kill Shot pulled me in from the very first page. The writing is tight and the pace swift while at the same time Dean’s storytelling is easy and enticing. I love stories that make you forget you’re reading and this is definitely one of them. Murder, embezzlement, organised crime, this one has it all.
A murder mystery you won’t want to put down!
A murder mystery you won’t want to put down!
November 8, 2020
Suspects and Twists galore!
John Dean has created a very memorable cast of characters and DCI Jack Harris is one of my favorite literary creations. There are always surprises and suspense in these novels and they are very well written. Great dialogue between the detectives and the suspects. Enjoyable read and I recommend the entire series.
John Dean has created a very memorable cast of characters and DCI Jack Harris is one of my favorite literary creations. There are always surprises and suspense in these novels and they are very well written. Great dialogue between the detectives and the suspects. Enjoyable read and I recommend the entire series.
December 11, 2020
A Sure Shot Hit!
Geoff Morden, amateur ornithologist and owner of haulage company Speedwagonz along with his friend and ornithologist Harry Groves is keeping a vigil on hen harrier. Both are enjoying the evening along with a drink when a bullet pierces the chest of Geoff. Initially it looks that the shooter missed the birds and accidentally hit Geoff. DCI Jack Harris is in charge of the investigation.
In Manchester, DCI Ged Rutherford gives witness protection to one George Mathews who knows a little too much about a gangster Lynton Jago.
While Jack Harris is contemplating the motive behind Geoff's death, he receives a call from Manchester. The plot gets interesting from hereon.
Was Geoff's death due to an accidental shooting or was it a deliberate murder?
Read the novel to find out.
Geoff Morden, amateur ornithologist and owner of haulage company Speedwagonz along with his friend and ornithologist Harry Groves is keeping a vigil on hen harrier. Both are enjoying the evening along with a drink when a bullet pierces the chest of Geoff. Initially it looks that the shooter missed the birds and accidentally hit Geoff. DCI Jack Harris is in charge of the investigation.
In Manchester, DCI Ged Rutherford gives witness protection to one George Mathews who knows a little too much about a gangster Lynton Jago.
While Jack Harris is contemplating the motive behind Geoff's death, he receives a call from Manchester. The plot gets interesting from hereon.
Was Geoff's death due to an accidental shooting or was it a deliberate murder?
Read the novel to find out.
January 19, 2021
I have really enjoyed these books. I love the characters and the way they fight crime. I love the unconventional characters. Plots are usually well drawn and enticing.
But seriously-right wing extremists as the bad boys ?! It really is tiresome, lazy and increasing irritating to see anyone right of centre or not faithfully following the left down the path of oblivion being the villains again in yet another series! All for asking questions that need to be asked.
My reading of the news tells me that it the left leaning Antifa and BLM that loot, burn and kill. sadly my following of this series has ended.
But seriously-right wing extremists as the bad boys ?! It really is tiresome, lazy and increasing irritating to see anyone right of centre or not faithfully following the left down the path of oblivion being the villains again in yet another series! All for asking questions that need to be asked.
My reading of the news tells me that it the left leaning Antifa and BLM that loot, burn and kill. sadly my following of this series has ended.
February 2, 2021
Book eight in this series of Jack Harris adventures, but will this be the last of Jack or will he survive to continue fighting crime in his own indomitable way?
When a member of the local bird preservation group is shot dead whilst guarding a pair of rare nesting hen harriers DCI Jack Harris gets an old adversary in his sights, but as the bodies start to pile up Jack is having flashbacks to his time in Kosovo when he was tasked with investigating the massacre of a small village where every man, woman and child was brutally murdered, can he withstand these brutal images long enough to finish the case, or will this case be the finish of Jack?
When a member of the local bird preservation group is shot dead whilst guarding a pair of rare nesting hen harriers DCI Jack Harris gets an old adversary in his sights, but as the bodies start to pile up Jack is having flashbacks to his time in Kosovo when he was tasked with investigating the massacre of a small village where every man, woman and child was brutally murdered, can he withstand these brutal images long enough to finish the case, or will this case be the finish of Jack?
August 6, 2025
A friend from Jack's past is killed while guarding a nesting site of hen harrier birds and Jack's mis-spent youth re-surfaces. There is a lot to digest in this book which is one of his best yet. Money laundering, drug smuggling, gun running etc are all investigated as Jack and his team, with the help of the Manchester team try to bring down a 'Mr Big' Lynton Jago.
Jack has his hands full trying to calm down the local community whilst secretly working with MI5. The massacre in Kosovo is also looked into as Jack is asked to testify the horror he witnessed. This book seemed to reveal more about Jack's inner self as he is usually such a closed off subject.
Jack has his hands full trying to calm down the local community whilst secretly working with MI5. The massacre in Kosovo is also looked into as Jack is asked to testify the horror he witnessed. This book seemed to reveal more about Jack's inner self as he is usually such a closed off subject.
January 3, 2021
Excellent series
I've read all eight over the course of several days (off for Christmas week). It's not like me to finish a series, I've even read 2.5 of 3 and not finished the third because the author started well but went downhill quickly.
The writing is smooth, the stories well-crafted. The people enjoyable and believable. I like how they matured thru the books. I figure I'll end up checking out his other books and will recommend him to friends.
I've read all eight over the course of several days (off for Christmas week). It's not like me to finish a series, I've even read 2.5 of 3 and not finished the third because the author started well but went downhill quickly.
The writing is smooth, the stories well-crafted. The people enjoyable and believable. I like how they matured thru the books. I figure I'll end up checking out his other books and will recommend him to friends.
February 26, 2021
Brilliant series
Just gets better! Love the character of DCI Jack Harris and always an interesting topic. I didn't know much about grouse shooting so I googled the subject (what would one do without google) and certainly don't agree with it, especially the killing of rare birds and foxes etc, another psychos sport. Great read and all's well ends well, can't wait for the next book.
Just gets better! Love the character of DCI Jack Harris and always an interesting topic. I didn't know much about grouse shooting so I googled the subject (what would one do without google) and certainly don't agree with it, especially the killing of rare birds and foxes etc, another psychos sport. Great read and all's well ends well, can't wait for the next book.
June 23, 2024
wonderful surprise
This my first review of a book so bare with me. I am an avid kindle crime fiction reader. I just finished the book 8 of Jack Harris series. I love everything about the books, the subjects, the characters, the description of the rural land and the surprise endings when you get towards the end of the book. Basically everything. Thank you John Dean. Please keep writing
This my first review of a book so bare with me. I am an avid kindle crime fiction reader. I just finished the book 8 of Jack Harris series. I love everything about the books, the subjects, the characters, the description of the rural land and the surprise endings when you get towards the end of the book. Basically everything. Thank you John Dean. Please keep writing
April 18, 2021
Jack Harris series
Jack Harris is my kind of individual. He tells things as they really are without worrying about being politically correct. One of the things I like most about this series is that the characters develop throughout. Real people change and grow, one way or another, and these characters do as well. This series is well worth your time.
Jack Harris is my kind of individual. He tells things as they really are without worrying about being politically correct. One of the things I like most about this series is that the characters develop throughout. Real people change and grow, one way or another, and these characters do as well. This series is well worth your time.
June 17, 2025
I would say the best in the series so far, birds of prey are not welcome on a grouse moor but are protected when some one gets killed while protecting them seemingly an accident you wonder where the book is going. You never guess what is behind it all and it is not until the end you find out. Well worth the read
July 18, 2025
The best to date! Had to read this in one sitting as there was no hope of stopping. Once this story grabbed you, that was it.
Bird sitting, a murder, arms run, a terrorist group and the chance for Jack to fulfil his wishes. Red herrings galore and MI5 finishes off the mix!
Brilliant!! Really brilliant!!
Bird sitting, a murder, arms run, a terrorist group and the chance for Jack to fulfil his wishes. Red herrings galore and MI5 finishes off the mix!
Brilliant!! Really brilliant!!
July 25, 2025
I enjoy most of the books about Jack Harris, but this one seemed more complex than usual because of his relationship with the victim and the need for him to exercise more temperate approaches to the investigation than usual. He had to placate a landowner he didn't particularly like to get at the truth about why the victim was killed.
December 24, 2020
Another great story
Another great story in the Back Harris series. A SCI who does things his way but gets the right results. All the usual characters and a story that has plenty of twists and turns. Keep them coming please.
Another great story in the Back Harris series. A SCI who does things his way but gets the right results. All the usual characters and a story that has plenty of twists and turns. Keep them coming please.
February 10, 2021
Excellent story
Such a great series, I really enjoy it. The characters are likeable and feel like old friends now, the stories are well written and have some good twists in them. I also love the birding/ nature inclusion in the series too.
Such a great series, I really enjoy it. The characters are likeable and feel like old friends now, the stories are well written and have some good twists in them. I also love the birding/ nature inclusion in the series too.
March 17, 2022
Kill Shot.
Good read, love the characters but the hackneyed plot let the side down, cottage in the middle of nowhere,drug baron. Jack Harris saves the book because he is so believable.
Good read, love the characters but the hackneyed plot let the side down, cottage in the middle of nowhere,drug baron. Jack Harris saves the book because he is so believable.
December 6, 2025
a fascinating read. characters are lager than life but very believable.
Another great read I do o enjoy the descriptive work that this author uses. He paints a wonderful picture of country side nd surrounding but never loses track of the theme.
Another great read I do o enjoy the descriptive work that this author uses. He paints a wonderful picture of country side nd surrounding but never loses track of the theme.
November 25, 2020
This has to be one of my favourite books in this series.
Jack Harris sees an opportunity to take down an organised crime network after a shooting. But has he bitten off more than he can chew?
Jack Harris sees an opportunity to take down an organised crime network after a shooting. But has he bitten off more than he can chew?
Read
January 14, 2021Dci Harris continues his style of lovsable rogue throughout the 8 books of the series. I have enjoyed all of them and look forward to the next installment.
March 31, 2022
Good story
Intriguing story line, dark humour and old style policing. What's not to like? Highly recommend. Read the whole series, you'll enjoy it.
Intriguing story line, dark humour and old style policing. What's not to like? Highly recommend. Read the whole series, you'll enjoy it.
May 18, 2023
Another exciting investigation. This is a great series.
October 14, 2024
While watching a nest of Hen Harriers Geoff Morden is killed by a gunman. Was he the target or the birds. DCI Jack Harris and his team investigate but it soon becomes a complex case.
An entertaining modern mystery
An entertaining modern mystery
May 17, 2025
Good read
Lots of twists and turns, a few surprises at the end, good series. Great books for lovers of crime novels
Lots of twists and turns, a few surprises at the end, good series. Great books for lovers of crime novels
June 9, 2025
Can’t leave this series only
September 4, 2025
No.8 in the Series and I am a real Fan of the Hawk . He does do thinks His Way But He is Believable. The Story was Great and I am Getting to Know and Like His Team
December 19, 2025
Excellent
I have enjoyed reading this book and as usual look got to reading more of his work. I will definitely be planning talking to my friends about this author .
I have enjoyed reading this book and as usual look got to reading more of his work. I will definitely be planning talking to my friends about this author .
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews