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Calladine & Bayliss #10
Dead Wicked
Detectives Calladine and Bayliss hunt for a vicious killer.
The first victim is found on waste ground. His tongue has been cut out and stuffed down his throat.
Then another body is found dumped in a lake up in the hills. The same gruesome murder method is used.
And guess who the detectives’ new boss is? The incredibly difficult Stephen Greco.
A twisted killer...and a wicked twist.
Meanwhile Ruth Bayliss’ personal life is falling apart, and someone is targeting local businesses with ransomware.
The prime suspect is a criminal Calladine thought he’d seen the last of.
Who’s the serial killer, and who’s next on the list?
Discover an absolutely unstoppable crime thriller from a best-selling author.
In an ending with a massive twist, the detectives find everything they believed is wrong.
If you like Angela Marsons, Rachel Abbott, Mel Sherratt, Ruth Rendell or Mark Billingham, you will enjoy this exciting new crime fiction writer.
Dead Wicked is book 10 of a series of detective thrillers featuring D.S. Ruth Bayliss and D.I. Tom Calladine.
The first victim is found on waste ground. His tongue has been cut out and stuffed down his throat.
Then another body is found dumped in a lake up in the hills. The same gruesome murder method is used.
And guess who the detectives’ new boss is? The incredibly difficult Stephen Greco.
A twisted killer...and a wicked twist.
Meanwhile Ruth Bayliss’ personal life is falling apart, and someone is targeting local businesses with ransomware.
The prime suspect is a criminal Calladine thought he’d seen the last of.
Who’s the serial killer, and who’s next on the list?
Discover an absolutely unstoppable crime thriller from a best-selling author.
In an ending with a massive twist, the detectives find everything they believed is wrong.
If you like Angela Marsons, Rachel Abbott, Mel Sherratt, Ruth Rendell or Mark Billingham, you will enjoy this exciting new crime fiction writer.
Dead Wicked is book 10 of a series of detective thrillers featuring D.S. Ruth Bayliss and D.I. Tom Calladine.
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First published June 30, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
July 14, 2020
EXCERPT: The white sheet was removed to reveal a tall thin young man whose upper body was covered in cuts and bruises, evidence of the beating and torture he'd suffered.
'The killer didn't hold back,' Ruth observed.
'Given his injuries, I'm surprised he had the strength to attempt to escape,' Natasha said.
'He'd be in a hell of a state,' Ruth added. 'The poor bugger must have been in agony.'
'I want to check what's going on in his throat. If there are blood clots, it will reinforce the theory that he choked to death. Mind you, he does have a sizeable bump on the back of his head,' Natasha said.
'Could that have been fatal?' Calladine asked.
'Incapacitating and serious, but I doubt it killed him.' Natasha made some incisions to allow her to look at the back of his mouth and the oesophagus. Taking a large pair of tweezers, she went in. 'Not quite what I thought,' she said, and lifted something out. 'The killer cut out his tongue and then pushed it back down his throat.' She plopped the discoloured piece of flesh into a bowl. 'The bang on the head was possibly the killer's way of rendering the poor man incapable of fighting back.'
ABOUT THIS BOOK: The fist victim is found on waste ground. His tongue has been cut out and stuffed down his throat.
Then another body is found dumped in a lake up in the hills. The same gruesome murder method is used.
And guess who the detectives’ new boss is? The incredibly difficult Stephen Greco.
A TWISTED KILLER . . . AND A WICKED TWIST
Meanwhile Ruth Bayliss’s personal life is falling part and someone is targeting local businesses with ransomware.
The prime suspect is a criminal Calladine thought he’d seen the last of.
WHO’S THE SERIAL KILLER AND WHO’S NEXT ON THE LIST?
MY THOUGHTS: I have read and enjoyed most of this series, but Dead Wicked lacked a little something for me - or maybe it was trying to cram a little too much in....multiple murders, kidnappings, ransomware, drug dealing, Ruth's relationship breakup, Calladines daughter's baby (and that's complicated!)
Once again, the book has been over-hyped with 'DEAD WICKED a totally addictive crime thriller with a huge twist on the cover. I didn't find it addictive, nor even particularly gripping. And the twist? Sorry, but I saw it coming.
Durrant's writing doesn't flow as easily in Dead Wicked as it has done in other books in this series. At times, the dialogue was stilted, and everything felt a little superficial. I am starting to think that it is perhaps time I put this series out to grass. Perhaps we have outgrown each other. It's been nice knowing you, we've had a lot of fun, but ...
This isn't a bad read, just not as good as most of the others in the series. And Dead Wicked does need to be read as part of the series. Not recommended as a stand-alone read.
3.25 stars
#DEADWICKED #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: Helen sets her books in the area she has lived in for many years. The towns and villages that sit in the shelter of the Pennine hills. This is an area between two counties, Lancashire and Yorkshire, and between the city and the hills. It offers a rich mix of the industrial and the countryside and all the character therein.
Helen always planned to write crime novels. But until she retired from full-time work in a local further education college, it had to go on the back burner. Once she did retire - there was no excuse. She now writes full-time. Retirement proper will have to wait!
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Joffe Books via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of Dead Wicked by Helen H. Durrant for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system, please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page, or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
'The killer didn't hold back,' Ruth observed.
'Given his injuries, I'm surprised he had the strength to attempt to escape,' Natasha said.
'He'd be in a hell of a state,' Ruth added. 'The poor bugger must have been in agony.'
'I want to check what's going on in his throat. If there are blood clots, it will reinforce the theory that he choked to death. Mind you, he does have a sizeable bump on the back of his head,' Natasha said.
'Could that have been fatal?' Calladine asked.
'Incapacitating and serious, but I doubt it killed him.' Natasha made some incisions to allow her to look at the back of his mouth and the oesophagus. Taking a large pair of tweezers, she went in. 'Not quite what I thought,' she said, and lifted something out. 'The killer cut out his tongue and then pushed it back down his throat.' She plopped the discoloured piece of flesh into a bowl. 'The bang on the head was possibly the killer's way of rendering the poor man incapable of fighting back.'
ABOUT THIS BOOK: The fist victim is found on waste ground. His tongue has been cut out and stuffed down his throat.
Then another body is found dumped in a lake up in the hills. The same gruesome murder method is used.
And guess who the detectives’ new boss is? The incredibly difficult Stephen Greco.
A TWISTED KILLER . . . AND A WICKED TWIST
Meanwhile Ruth Bayliss’s personal life is falling part and someone is targeting local businesses with ransomware.
The prime suspect is a criminal Calladine thought he’d seen the last of.
WHO’S THE SERIAL KILLER AND WHO’S NEXT ON THE LIST?
MY THOUGHTS: I have read and enjoyed most of this series, but Dead Wicked lacked a little something for me - or maybe it was trying to cram a little too much in....multiple murders, kidnappings, ransomware, drug dealing, Ruth's relationship breakup, Calladines daughter's baby (and that's complicated!)
Once again, the book has been over-hyped with 'DEAD WICKED a totally addictive crime thriller with a huge twist on the cover. I didn't find it addictive, nor even particularly gripping. And the twist? Sorry, but I saw it coming.
Durrant's writing doesn't flow as easily in Dead Wicked as it has done in other books in this series. At times, the dialogue was stilted, and everything felt a little superficial. I am starting to think that it is perhaps time I put this series out to grass. Perhaps we have outgrown each other. It's been nice knowing you, we've had a lot of fun, but ...
This isn't a bad read, just not as good as most of the others in the series. And Dead Wicked does need to be read as part of the series. Not recommended as a stand-alone read.
3.25 stars
#DEADWICKED #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: Helen sets her books in the area she has lived in for many years. The towns and villages that sit in the shelter of the Pennine hills. This is an area between two counties, Lancashire and Yorkshire, and between the city and the hills. It offers a rich mix of the industrial and the countryside and all the character therein.
Helen always planned to write crime novels. But until she retired from full-time work in a local further education college, it had to go on the back burner. Once she did retire - there was no excuse. She now writes full-time. Retirement proper will have to wait!
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Joffe Books via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of Dead Wicked by Helen H. Durrant for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system, please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page, or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
November 14, 2021
This is a 3.5 star read.
June 27, 2020
This book brings together the old team of DI Tom Calladine and DS Ruth Bayliss along with SCI Stephen Greco who has his own series. A young man is found dead in some wasteland. He has been bashed and slashed and had his tongue cut out and shoved down his throat. I’ve wondered at times how you would actually do that, you’d have to get your fingers in there and - teeth! But I digress, the young man was well regarded and mild mannered, everyone spoke well of him so there is no apparent motive. Another body soon follows. This one has all the hallmarks of Clifford Machin, a man that Calladine had put away years ago, now out on licence.
Meanwhile there is a new drug ring in town and everyone is too scared to talk about it. Local businesses are also being targeted with ransomware attacks, freezing them out of their computer systems. The police are unsure which if any of these crimes (including the murders) are related. There are suspects aplenty but the puzzle pieces don’t quite fit. Finally, everything points in one direction but Calladine is not convinced. Things come to a head with an abduction that is too close to home and a suspect that, well, that’s the twist.
It was a good story that ended a little abruptly and, I’m sad to say, a little predictably. To me the bad guy was pretty obvious but maybe I read too many crime thrillers. 3.5 stars rounded up. Thanks to Netgalley, Joffe Books and Helen H. Durrant for providing this copy for me to review.
Meanwhile there is a new drug ring in town and everyone is too scared to talk about it. Local businesses are also being targeted with ransomware attacks, freezing them out of their computer systems. The police are unsure which if any of these crimes (including the murders) are related. There are suspects aplenty but the puzzle pieces don’t quite fit. Finally, everything points in one direction but Calladine is not convinced. Things come to a head with an abduction that is too close to home and a suspect that, well, that’s the twist.
It was a good story that ended a little abruptly and, I’m sad to say, a little predictably. To me the bad guy was pretty obvious but maybe I read too many crime thrillers. 3.5 stars rounded up. Thanks to Netgalley, Joffe Books and Helen H. Durrant for providing this copy for me to review.
June 27, 2020
This is the 10th book in the excellent Calladine and Bayliss series by author Helen H Durrant. The books work great as a stand-alones but I would recommend reading the complete series to really get the most out of them.
A brutal murderer is on the loose and Detectives Calladine and Bayliss are on the case. Fo
The dead body of a man is found on waste ground with his tongue cut out and stuffed down his throat. This discovery is quickly followed by another dead body dumped in a lake, murdered using the same method operandi.
This is another fast paced novel in the same style of the others in the series, lots of murders and the growing friction when the new DCI is announced to be Stephen Greco, someone Calladine has never got on with.
A great addition to a very good series.
I would like to thank both Net Galley and Joffe for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
A brutal murderer is on the loose and Detectives Calladine and Bayliss are on the case. Fo
The dead body of a man is found on waste ground with his tongue cut out and stuffed down his throat. This discovery is quickly followed by another dead body dumped in a lake, murdered using the same method operandi.
This is another fast paced novel in the same style of the others in the series, lots of murders and the growing friction when the new DCI is announced to be Stephen Greco, someone Calladine has never got on with.
A great addition to a very good series.
I would like to thank both Net Galley and Joffe for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
June 28, 2020
Calladine & Bayliss #10
DI Tom Calladine ha been acting DCI and he hated it. He turns down the full time post. DCI Stephen Greco gets the job and Tom has not really got along with him in the past. Tom and Ruth are investigating the murder of Kieran Ramsey who had been badly beaten and his tongue had been cut out and pushed down his throat. Another body is soon found murdered the same way. There's also a child that's been poisoned from a drink bought at the local shop. Gina, the shop assistant, flees the scene.
Theres a lot going on in this book ut it's still easy to follow. The pace is fast with a few curve balls thrown in. With murderes, drudge dealing and lots of suspects, this story will keep you guessing throughout. I love the authors writing style. I was hooked from the start. This series gets better with each new book. This book could be read as a standalone but do yourself a favour, rews this series from the beginning. You won't be disappointed.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Joffe Books and the author Helen H. Durrant for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
DI Tom Calladine ha been acting DCI and he hated it. He turns down the full time post. DCI Stephen Greco gets the job and Tom has not really got along with him in the past. Tom and Ruth are investigating the murder of Kieran Ramsey who had been badly beaten and his tongue had been cut out and pushed down his throat. Another body is soon found murdered the same way. There's also a child that's been poisoned from a drink bought at the local shop. Gina, the shop assistant, flees the scene.
Theres a lot going on in this book ut it's still easy to follow. The pace is fast with a few curve balls thrown in. With murderes, drudge dealing and lots of suspects, this story will keep you guessing throughout. I love the authors writing style. I was hooked from the start. This series gets better with each new book. This book could be read as a standalone but do yourself a favour, rews this series from the beginning. You won't be disappointed.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Joffe Books and the author Helen H. Durrant for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 2, 2020
DI Tom Calladine and DS Ruth Bayliss face not only criminals new and old, they each are facing issues in their personal lives.
Calladine and Bayliss have a new boss ... someone they are very familiar with. Calladine blames himself as he turned down the promotion, preferring to working crimes rather than doing paperwork. Yes .. Stephen Greco back in this 10th story in this series.
A man is found with his tongue cut out and stuffed down his throat. He had been very badly beaten. Then another body is found in the same condition. There are no motives for either of these murders ... no witnesses ... no forensics.
On the personal side , Calladine's daughter is pregnant and trying to kindly fight off family members who insist on telling her how to be a parent. Tom is delighted in his new role as grandfather. His birth mother is having a problem with ransomware on her business computers. They are basically being held for ransom and she wants Calladine to fix the problem.
Bayliss is having domestic problems and her husband has packed his bags and gone to stay with his girlfriend. That leaves her devastated ...and how is she going to balance raising a very young son while working the hours she does?
Calladine receives word that a criminal he had put away years ago is out .. and living close by. This man automatically goes to the top of Tom's list of suspects. This man also threatened to kill Calladine and everyone that he loved.
As with all the other books in this series, this is well-written with a tightly woven plot involving characters that have become as familiar as friends and/or neighbors. I really enjoyed the author's use of a character from a different series. In an ending with a massive twist, the detectives find everything they believed is wrong. Lots of action keeps the reader engaged in this riveting crime fiction.
Although 10th in the series, this is easily read as a stand alone. I do recommend reading the entire series in order ... would make a terrific marathon reading.
Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books / Books 'n All Book Promotions / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely own.
September 6, 2020
2nd read for the #ReverseReadathon
So, it is only three days since finishing Dead Wicked during the Readathon and I have finally some time to write down my thoughts. However, I found I had to strain myself recalling who the bad guy was and why. I think that sort of sums up rather how forgettable this one was.
The bodies pile up, resembling yet another one of Calladine's cases, and internet crime which seems loosely connected. When things get personal, there suddenly is a complete change in MO which didn't make a lot of sense. I felt the bad guy was inserted mainly for the shock effect, but it was so random to me, I didn't like it.
A lot of time however is spent with the private lives of - in this case for a change - Bayliss rather than Calladine, though he manages to patronize her time after time (and is certainly being hypocrite given his past). I still don't like Calladine and I feel they should be pushing more for that early retirement...
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Find this and other reviews on https://www.urlphantomhive.com
So, it is only three days since finishing Dead Wicked during the Readathon and I have finally some time to write down my thoughts. However, I found I had to strain myself recalling who the bad guy was and why. I think that sort of sums up rather how forgettable this one was.
The bodies pile up, resembling yet another one of Calladine's cases, and internet crime which seems loosely connected. When things get personal, there suddenly is a complete change in MO which didn't make a lot of sense. I felt the bad guy was inserted mainly for the shock effect, but it was so random to me, I didn't like it.
A lot of time however is spent with the private lives of - in this case for a change - Bayliss rather than Calladine, though he manages to patronize her time after time (and is certainly being hypocrite given his past). I still don't like Calladine and I feel they should be pushing more for that early retirement...
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Find this and other reviews on https://www.urlphantomhive.com
July 8, 2020
DEAD WICKED by author Helen H. Durrant is book 10 of a new series of detective thrillers featuring D.S. Ruth Bayliss and D.I. Tom Calladine. Having read all the previous books in this series and really enjoyed them and the characters, it was like old home week, touching base with some of my old friends. I looked forward to starting the next crime thriller in the series. The books work great as a standalone, but I would recommend reading the complete series to really get the most out of them.
This book will have you turning the pages until the shocking conclusion. This is a crime thriller with an ending with a huge twist.
Detective inspector Tom Calladine is a workaholic, totally devoted to his job. He is a hands-on copper that does investigations and solves crimes. He is currently acting DCI, but paperwork and a desk job doesn’t suit Tom. But his personal life has not been so rewarding, being married and divorced before he was twenty-one.
DI Tom Calladine and DS Ruth Bayliss are called to a crime scene where the body of a dead man is found on the ground, after staggering out of a pub, with his tongue cut out and stuffed down his throat. Then soon after another dead body was discovered in a lake, murdered in the same fashion.
The team now have a new boss-Stephen Greco returns to the series, now as DCI. Tom, who never got on with Greco barely tolerates him. The team wasn’t happy with the selection choice.
In this series, Bayliss’s husband, Jake walks out on her and her two-year-old son, Harry for another woman. It hits Bayliss hard, and she must now find a way to juggle her long hours at work while providing day-care for her son.
On a positive note, Calladine’s daughter, Zoe is pregnant, and Calladine is looking forward to being a grandfather.
Calladine’s birth mother’s business and another business has been targeted by ransomware. The perpetrator locks down the system, until the person pays a large sum of money.
Tom and his team have a lot to handle. Calladine finds out that a criminal that he put away years ago is now out and now Tom must watch his back!
This is a great series to follow, with lots of action, and great relatable detectives. I will continue to follow this series. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to Joffe Books via Netgalley for my digital copy.
This book will have you turning the pages until the shocking conclusion. This is a crime thriller with an ending with a huge twist.
Detective inspector Tom Calladine is a workaholic, totally devoted to his job. He is a hands-on copper that does investigations and solves crimes. He is currently acting DCI, but paperwork and a desk job doesn’t suit Tom. But his personal life has not been so rewarding, being married and divorced before he was twenty-one.
DI Tom Calladine and DS Ruth Bayliss are called to a crime scene where the body of a dead man is found on the ground, after staggering out of a pub, with his tongue cut out and stuffed down his throat. Then soon after another dead body was discovered in a lake, murdered in the same fashion.
The team now have a new boss-Stephen Greco returns to the series, now as DCI. Tom, who never got on with Greco barely tolerates him. The team wasn’t happy with the selection choice.
In this series, Bayliss’s husband, Jake walks out on her and her two-year-old son, Harry for another woman. It hits Bayliss hard, and she must now find a way to juggle her long hours at work while providing day-care for her son.
On a positive note, Calladine’s daughter, Zoe is pregnant, and Calladine is looking forward to being a grandfather.
Calladine’s birth mother’s business and another business has been targeted by ransomware. The perpetrator locks down the system, until the person pays a large sum of money.
Tom and his team have a lot to handle. Calladine finds out that a criminal that he put away years ago is now out and now Tom must watch his back!
This is a great series to follow, with lots of action, and great relatable detectives. I will continue to follow this series. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to Joffe Books via Netgalley for my digital copy.
June 24, 2020
Totally addictive.
Book ten calladine and bayliss.
On the Hobfield estate Halifax, Kieron Ramsey heading to home at heron house towers, drunk but he has to be kept quiet after been set upon his tongue is cut out.
The estate is a magnet of villains, Tom Calladine and Ruth Bayliss investigate and found him badly beaten looks like he's upset the killer. Gina Haigh out of care staying with her Aunt moira works in the same supermarket as Kieron after an incidence she flees so are the two connected?
Just what can I say, wow its a cracker, I loved it, fast pace, with a cracking end. Lots going on through out this book, its action packed and I couldn't put it down.
Book ten calladine and bayliss.
On the Hobfield estate Halifax, Kieron Ramsey heading to home at heron house towers, drunk but he has to be kept quiet after been set upon his tongue is cut out.
The estate is a magnet of villains, Tom Calladine and Ruth Bayliss investigate and found him badly beaten looks like he's upset the killer. Gina Haigh out of care staying with her Aunt moira works in the same supermarket as Kieron after an incidence she flees so are the two connected?
Just what can I say, wow its a cracker, I loved it, fast pace, with a cracking end. Lots going on through out this book, its action packed and I couldn't put it down.
December 22, 2020
I loved this, another winner from this author.
Packed with drama and tension, I found this fast-paced, and a real page-turner: Who is silencing people, and is there a link between the two cases?!
I loved the storyline and couldn't wait to find out who the perpetrator/s were, and why they were committing these heinous crimes.
I also loved that we're let into the police detectives private lives as well as seeing the main story as it gave me more of a feel for the characters.
I look forward to more from this author and I highly recommend.
Packed with drama and tension, I found this fast-paced, and a real page-turner: Who is silencing people, and is there a link between the two cases?!
I loved the storyline and couldn't wait to find out who the perpetrator/s were, and why they were committing these heinous crimes.
I also loved that we're let into the police detectives private lives as well as seeing the main story as it gave me more of a feel for the characters.
I look forward to more from this author and I highly recommend.
July 8, 2020
Another brilliant addition to the Calladine and Bayliss series by Helen Durrant.
Following the shocks of the previous book Calladine is acting DCI but it isn't for him he is an out and about detective and he soon realises that sitting behind a pile of paperwork is not what he signed up for so he withdraws his interest for the position. When the new DCI turns up they find it is none other than the infamous Greco, a disgraced detective from another division, one with many quirks and a cleanliness fetish but worse than that a man Calladine doesn't like. Can the pair put aside their differing personalities and work together as a team?
That isn't the only problem Calladine has to deal with there are many more, a pregnant daughter and all the issues that brings and in addition a man who threatened him when he put him away years ago is out on parole and seems to be bang smack in the middle of his case. But all is not what it seems and Calladine and his team have many leads to untangle before they find the way forward.
Another fabulously gripping page-turner from Helen Durrant as we learn more about the characters and their lives as they try to stop the evil that lives among us.
A well deserved 5 stars from me.
Following the shocks of the previous book Calladine is acting DCI but it isn't for him he is an out and about detective and he soon realises that sitting behind a pile of paperwork is not what he signed up for so he withdraws his interest for the position. When the new DCI turns up they find it is none other than the infamous Greco, a disgraced detective from another division, one with many quirks and a cleanliness fetish but worse than that a man Calladine doesn't like. Can the pair put aside their differing personalities and work together as a team?
That isn't the only problem Calladine has to deal with there are many more, a pregnant daughter and all the issues that brings and in addition a man who threatened him when he put him away years ago is out on parole and seems to be bang smack in the middle of his case. But all is not what it seems and Calladine and his team have many leads to untangle before they find the way forward.
Another fabulously gripping page-turner from Helen Durrant as we learn more about the characters and their lives as they try to stop the evil that lives among us.
A well deserved 5 stars from me.
July 4, 2020
I received a free uncorrected proof of this from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.
This is book 10 in the DI Calladine and DS Bayliss series. This thriller involves ransomware, kidnapping, food tampering, drug dealers, torture, and murder. Definitely not for the faint of heart in places. The story opens with the murder of a young man on the way home from a night out at the pub. This gets DI Calladine involved and the case begins to move along swiftly. The plots connect through interactions of the characters and there are also well done subplots involving their personal lives. DI Calladine’s adult daughter is pregnant and her choice of donor has evoked rather complicated issues. Meanwhile, Ruth’s family is coming apart at the seams. A well done, fast paced thriller.
This is a series that vastly improved as it went on. I had read book 2 as part of the Kindle English Mystery Book Club on Goodreads and I didn’t continue with the series at the time, but now reading this I see a substantial growth in story development and writing and would read more now.
This is book 10 in the DI Calladine and DS Bayliss series. This thriller involves ransomware, kidnapping, food tampering, drug dealers, torture, and murder. Definitely not for the faint of heart in places. The story opens with the murder of a young man on the way home from a night out at the pub. This gets DI Calladine involved and the case begins to move along swiftly. The plots connect through interactions of the characters and there are also well done subplots involving their personal lives. DI Calladine’s adult daughter is pregnant and her choice of donor has evoked rather complicated issues. Meanwhile, Ruth’s family is coming apart at the seams. A well done, fast paced thriller.
This is a series that vastly improved as it went on. I had read book 2 as part of the Kindle English Mystery Book Club on Goodreads and I didn’t continue with the series at the time, but now reading this I see a substantial growth in story development and writing and would read more now.
June 25, 2020
201 pages
5 stars
Acting DCI Tom Calladine hates his new job and can't wait to join his former partner DS Ruth Bayliss at a crime scene.
The man has been badly beaten, but the most outstanding feature of his death is that his tongue was cut out and stuffed down his throat.
At the same time, Calladine's team is dealing with a rash of persons being extorted by ransomware. These are particularly heinous crimes.
This book is littered with murders and the tension is increased when the new DCI assigned to the station turns out to be Stephen Greco. Calladine and Greco have never seen eye to eye. Calladine thinks Greco is too prissy.
This is a great book. Ms. Durrant has written a sharp police procedural which illustrates the triumphs as well as the frustrations of a day to day police investigation. Her characters are interesting and true to life. The reader is in the the station or on the streets with the investigators as they try to sort out the cases. Are they related? Calladine doesn't think so.
This book comes complete with surprises and turns. The identity of the murderer was a big surprise. I loved it!
I want to thank NetGalley and Joffe Books for forwarding to me a copy of this absolutely great book for me to read, enjoy and review.
5 stars
Acting DCI Tom Calladine hates his new job and can't wait to join his former partner DS Ruth Bayliss at a crime scene.
The man has been badly beaten, but the most outstanding feature of his death is that his tongue was cut out and stuffed down his throat.
At the same time, Calladine's team is dealing with a rash of persons being extorted by ransomware. These are particularly heinous crimes.
This book is littered with murders and the tension is increased when the new DCI assigned to the station turns out to be Stephen Greco. Calladine and Greco have never seen eye to eye. Calladine thinks Greco is too prissy.
This is a great book. Ms. Durrant has written a sharp police procedural which illustrates the triumphs as well as the frustrations of a day to day police investigation. Her characters are interesting and true to life. The reader is in the the station or on the streets with the investigators as they try to sort out the cases. Are they related? Calladine doesn't think so.
This book comes complete with surprises and turns. The identity of the murderer was a big surprise. I loved it!
I want to thank NetGalley and Joffe Books for forwarding to me a copy of this absolutely great book for me to read, enjoy and review.
June 26, 2020
Dead Wicked by Helen Durrant -Crime
A man staggering home from a pub one night is found brutally murdered. He appears to have no enemies and is not in any kind of trouble. A young woman goes missing and at the supermarket where she worked as she walked out there is a child ill from drinks having been contaminated. The link between the two is possibly her boyfriend, a known trouble maker on the estate. Callerdine meets an old adversary and is convinced that he has more to do with things than he is letting on although vehemently protests his innocence. Meanwhile Ruth has her own issues at home but there is light on the horizon and maybe a new flame? I really enjoy this series. There is always a good solid plot( as ever with Helen’s books) and very likeable characters. Calldine feels like an old friend and I really don’t want him to retire any time soon! This is one of a series (book 10) but would probably stand alone- then again- why miss out on more wonderful reads? Love this, love Calladine, love the series.
For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
or follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog
A man staggering home from a pub one night is found brutally murdered. He appears to have no enemies and is not in any kind of trouble. A young woman goes missing and at the supermarket where she worked as she walked out there is a child ill from drinks having been contaminated. The link between the two is possibly her boyfriend, a known trouble maker on the estate. Callerdine meets an old adversary and is convinced that he has more to do with things than he is letting on although vehemently protests his innocence. Meanwhile Ruth has her own issues at home but there is light on the horizon and maybe a new flame? I really enjoy this series. There is always a good solid plot( as ever with Helen’s books) and very likeable characters. Calldine feels like an old friend and I really don’t want him to retire any time soon! This is one of a series (book 10) but would probably stand alone- then again- why miss out on more wonderful reads? Love this, love Calladine, love the series.
For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
or follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog
February 18, 2022
*Another Page Turner*
This instalment is jam packed, following the departure of the previous DCI we see DI Calladine as acting DCI which he hates. His name was put forward to fill the post on a permanent basis but Calladine much prefers to be out in the field in the thick of things and not bogged down by paperwork.
Well his replacement is the freakishly neat, and difficult to get on with DCI Greco.
The case has multiple elements going on, there is murder, bearing all the hallmarks of a newly released convict, kidnapping including a member directly related to Calladine, not to mention drugs and cyber attacks on companies
As usual Tom’s love life is chaos but Ruth love life changes and she is fighting an attraction to a new member
Calladine has a hunch who the killer is and he is hiding in plain sight which puts a team member in danger, will Calladine and his team save the day…..
This instalment is jam packed, following the departure of the previous DCI we see DI Calladine as acting DCI which he hates. His name was put forward to fill the post on a permanent basis but Calladine much prefers to be out in the field in the thick of things and not bogged down by paperwork.
Well his replacement is the freakishly neat, and difficult to get on with DCI Greco.
The case has multiple elements going on, there is murder, bearing all the hallmarks of a newly released convict, kidnapping including a member directly related to Calladine, not to mention drugs and cyber attacks on companies
As usual Tom’s love life is chaos but Ruth love life changes and she is fighting an attraction to a new member
Calladine has a hunch who the killer is and he is hiding in plain sight which puts a team member in danger, will Calladine and his team save the day…..
October 10, 2020
This was my first introduction to this series of books and I was pleased that I was able to read this easily as a standalone. Calladine and Bayliss make a formidable team and I particularly liked the rapport between the two and also the human , family elements to the story. I think that's my next binge read set up for me.
June 28, 2020
I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of Dead Wicked, the tenth novel to feature DI Tom Calladine and DS Ruth Bayliss, set in the fictional northern town of Leesworth.
Calladine is frustrated by his promotion to acting DCI, so when a mutilated body is found on waste ground he is ready to investigate and hand the paperwork over to his new boss DCI Stephen Greco, an old adversary. Unfortunately there are more bodies and ramifications in the case than he could have imagined.
I thoroughly enjoyed Dead Wicked which has an absorbing plot with several twists and turns. It is told mostly from the investigative point of view, i.e. Calladine and Bayliss, after a scene setting prologue which really grabs the attention. After that I was hooked and read the novel in one sitting. I liked that the plot is multi stranded. I had no idea of what fitted where until all was explained at the end, although I had an inkling of the killer’s identity early on despite the why eluding me. As I said the plot is multi stranded with various threads and permutations, but it is never difficult to follow as the author has the knack of laying it out clearly, concisely and logically. There is always something to hold the attention with developments in every chapter.
After so many novels Calladine and Bayliss are like old friends, well known but still able to surprise. In this case it is Bayliss’s love life under the microscope while the fickle Calladine is, for once, without a partner although not trouble free. It is interesting to see Stephen Greco from another series make his permanent professional home In Leesworth. There may be fireworks ahead although this early introduction seems benign.
Dead Wicked is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
Calladine is frustrated by his promotion to acting DCI, so when a mutilated body is found on waste ground he is ready to investigate and hand the paperwork over to his new boss DCI Stephen Greco, an old adversary. Unfortunately there are more bodies and ramifications in the case than he could have imagined.
I thoroughly enjoyed Dead Wicked which has an absorbing plot with several twists and turns. It is told mostly from the investigative point of view, i.e. Calladine and Bayliss, after a scene setting prologue which really grabs the attention. After that I was hooked and read the novel in one sitting. I liked that the plot is multi stranded. I had no idea of what fitted where until all was explained at the end, although I had an inkling of the killer’s identity early on despite the why eluding me. As I said the plot is multi stranded with various threads and permutations, but it is never difficult to follow as the author has the knack of laying it out clearly, concisely and logically. There is always something to hold the attention with developments in every chapter.
After so many novels Calladine and Bayliss are like old friends, well known but still able to surprise. In this case it is Bayliss’s love life under the microscope while the fickle Calladine is, for once, without a partner although not trouble free. It is interesting to see Stephen Greco from another series make his permanent professional home In Leesworth. There may be fireworks ahead although this early introduction seems benign.
Dead Wicked is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
July 11, 2020
This is the 10th book in the DI Tom Calladine and DS Ruth Bayliss Series, although this is the first one I have read. First of all I have to say the author has done a good job of writing this book so that it can be read as a standalone. I do not feel that not having read the previous books spoilt my enjoyment at all, although I can see how there would be more layers of the story to enjoy if you had read the others.
There are two main strands to the story. Firstly a young man is found dead on wasteland, having been savagely beaten up and had his tongue cut out which is found down his throat, yet he seems too nice a person to have come to this end. Secondly we have individuals and companies being targeted through a Ransomware attack. Are these two unrelated cases they end up investigating or are they connected in some way?
I have to say I really enjoyed this story which moves along at a fast pace and is an easy read and I liked the interaction between the main characters, both of whom face challenges in their personal lives. In particular I liked the dialogue between the characters. This was further added to when they found out they had a new boss, who was known, but not universally popular.
I raced through this book in 24 hours and am happy to recommend it to other readers as a good book and am now keen to go back and read the others in the series. If you like fast moving books with a good plot and good characters then this could be the book and series for you. I did work out who the murderer was but that didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the book, and it was left with one thread being left up in the air that I’m sure will come back to haunt Calladine in a future book.
I gave this book 4 stars overall, and would like to say thank you to Netgalley and Joffe books for providing a copy of this book to me for an open and honest review.
There are two main strands to the story. Firstly a young man is found dead on wasteland, having been savagely beaten up and had his tongue cut out which is found down his throat, yet he seems too nice a person to have come to this end. Secondly we have individuals and companies being targeted through a Ransomware attack. Are these two unrelated cases they end up investigating or are they connected in some way?
I have to say I really enjoyed this story which moves along at a fast pace and is an easy read and I liked the interaction between the main characters, both of whom face challenges in their personal lives. In particular I liked the dialogue between the characters. This was further added to when they found out they had a new boss, who was known, but not universally popular.
I raced through this book in 24 hours and am happy to recommend it to other readers as a good book and am now keen to go back and read the others in the series. If you like fast moving books with a good plot and good characters then this could be the book and series for you. I did work out who the murderer was but that didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the book, and it was left with one thread being left up in the air that I’m sure will come back to haunt Calladine in a future book.
I gave this book 4 stars overall, and would like to say thank you to Netgalley and Joffe books for providing a copy of this book to me for an open and honest review.
October 15, 2020
Another good one, about murder and drugs but, as I said in my review of the last book, I'm done. All the books are good but I'm tired of all her books having no excitement whatsoever.
No romance and no swearing to speak of.
As for the narration: Jonathan Keeble is one of the best narrators out there, no matter what he reads.
No romance and no swearing to speak of.
As for the narration: Jonathan Keeble is one of the best narrators out there, no matter what he reads.
May 21, 2024
I think this has been my favourite one in the series so far. Really well written, clever twists, interesting throughout. I really enjoyed it.
July 27, 2020
Can you believe this is now the 10th book in the DI Calladine & DS Bayliss series???
I adore this series and I've loved every single book in the run up to this one. Personally I would recommend reading the series in order to truly get to grips with the characters and their backstories BUT it could easily be read as a stand alone.
Once again Helen has the reader totally captivated by her brilliant writing style. From the very first page I was fully submerged and didn't come up for breath.
A tightly woven plot wound with some of the best characters in this genre, what more could you want?
Once again DI Calladine is in the thick of things and has to do things the less conventional way (who doesn't love a bad boy Detective?) Full of twists and turns this will have your head spinning at times, even if you have guessed "who dunnit".
I love just how relatable the characters are in this series, each with their own true to life family troubles, traumas and daily grind.
I will admit I did find the ending quite predictable and abrupt which saddened me slightly but it didnt differ from an amazing storyline.
A totally addictive series that will have you setting an alarm for the next instalment.
Solid 4*
Huge thanks to netgalley and Joffe Books for the ARC.
I adore this series and I've loved every single book in the run up to this one. Personally I would recommend reading the series in order to truly get to grips with the characters and their backstories BUT it could easily be read as a stand alone.
Once again Helen has the reader totally captivated by her brilliant writing style. From the very first page I was fully submerged and didn't come up for breath.
A tightly woven plot wound with some of the best characters in this genre, what more could you want?
Once again DI Calladine is in the thick of things and has to do things the less conventional way (who doesn't love a bad boy Detective?) Full of twists and turns this will have your head spinning at times, even if you have guessed "who dunnit".
I love just how relatable the characters are in this series, each with their own true to life family troubles, traumas and daily grind.
I will admit I did find the ending quite predictable and abrupt which saddened me slightly but it didnt differ from an amazing storyline.
A totally addictive series that will have you setting an alarm for the next instalment.
Solid 4*
Huge thanks to netgalley and Joffe Books for the ARC.
June 27, 2020
Once again I was highly delighted to receive Helen’s latest book in this brilliant series. In fact, I started it in the morning and read until I finished it just now at 23:13!
I soon got back into the characters with Calladine and Ruth being the major players. This time round Calladine has been promoted, but he doesn’t want the job preferring to be out on the street solving crimes not managing budgets and pen pushing, but there’s a sting in the tail, his replacement is none other than his nemesis Greco! Just shows, be careful what you wish for!
As the murders and crimes wrack up, Calladine thinks it’s one of his old miscreants who’ve just come out of jail, but is it him??? All the fingers are pointing that way, and the crimes are similar to those committed years ago, but when his birth mother goes missing, the pressure is on. There are other odd things that don’t add up, but you’ll have to read the book and find out....
This has to be the best yet, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, the pace never let up, wonderful book.
My thanks to Helen and Joffe Publishers for the ARC.
I soon got back into the characters with Calladine and Ruth being the major players. This time round Calladine has been promoted, but he doesn’t want the job preferring to be out on the street solving crimes not managing budgets and pen pushing, but there’s a sting in the tail, his replacement is none other than his nemesis Greco! Just shows, be careful what you wish for!
As the murders and crimes wrack up, Calladine thinks it’s one of his old miscreants who’ve just come out of jail, but is it him??? All the fingers are pointing that way, and the crimes are similar to those committed years ago, but when his birth mother goes missing, the pressure is on. There are other odd things that don’t add up, but you’ll have to read the book and find out....
This has to be the best yet, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, the pace never let up, wonderful book.
My thanks to Helen and Joffe Publishers for the ARC.
August 1, 2020
A good, old fashioned, murder story.
This story was a fast moving tale of horrific murder, drug dealing, cyber crime and revenge. It was a real page turner, from start to finish. If you like fast moving police drama then this is the book for you.
This story was a fast moving tale of horrific murder, drug dealing, cyber crime and revenge. It was a real page turner, from start to finish. If you like fast moving police drama then this is the book for you.
July 6, 2020
This is the tenth book in the hugely popular Detective Calladine and Bayliss series, one which I would strongly suggest you read in order. There is a lot of ongoing character development over the series which continues in this story and also references are made to events in previous stories which could spoil your enjoyment of those books if not read first. The series is set in the fictional village of Leesdon on the outskirts of a northern English industrial city where there is much unemployment and crime, particularly on the Hobfield estate, still the bane of DI Tom Calladine's working life. Most of the main characters in Leesdon CID and the Duggen, which handles forensics and pathology, are still present and it is a bit like revisiting old friends who need little introduction. This time there are two new faces to meet, one at the Duggen assisting Prof Julian Batho and who seems to be a popular choice, and one in CID, definitely not so popular. Since Calladine refuses to take up the permanent post of DCI, fearing he will be chained to a desk, the job has been filled by Stephen Greco from Oldston and Calladine feels guilty that this man has been inflicted on a great team which still includes DC Alice Bolshaw and DC Simon "Rocco" Rockliffe from previous stories. Greco features in another series by this author and has a reputation for not being the easiest person to work with. Personal circumstances have forced his move, so together with Calladine having a clingy ex-girlfriend, also Batho's aunt, staying with him and DS Ruth Bayliss having marriage problems, none of them are having an easy time and things are a little tense to say the least. The story opens with the brutal slaying of a young man on his way home from the pub. He is found on waste land the next day badly beaten and with his tongue cut out. The victim is swiftly identified and it turns out his workplace has also just received a strange attack on it. A girl who works there and who was a friend of his gets scared and goes into hiding leaving her boyfriend to the mercy of a nasty criminal. In quick succession a local businesswoman falls prey to a cyber attack and it is not long before the brutal killer strikes again. The detectives will need to put their personal problems to one side and all pull together to solve these baffling crimes. There is a lot happening all at once and the detectives are not sure whether the cases are connected or not just because they have links to a certain place. But even when it all looks done and dusted Calladine is still not so sure and his gut is telling him they have it all wrong. The obvious suspect is a man Calladine put away years ago who is recently released from prison and who swore to get even with the detective, but just how can he be linked to all these current crimes? Or is the truth far more sinister? The pace is kept up throughout with plenty of action, clues and suspects in a clever and complex plot that does eventually all come together and make sense. It is a good solid police procedural in an excellent series with very likable characters which I can highly recommend. The book ends with a bit of uncertainty all round and I will be very interested to see how this all pans out in the next story. 5*
June 26, 2020
Dead Wicked - Helen H Durrant
Dead Wicked is book 10 in the Calladine & Bayliss series. The main characters are reintroduced within the first few pages so you can read this as a stand-alone book and still understand what’s happening but I would recommend starting from book 1 as this is an amazing series and one of my favourites!
My favourite part about this series is that each book focuses on a different major crime so each is different but still has the backstory of Tom & his family running throughout.
The plot....
Tom Calladine has recently been promoted to acting DCI, a desk job he knows he will hate. He soon turns this down so he can get back out in the field doing what he does best.... solving crimes alongside his team.
A brutal murder has taken place on the local estate which has left a man beaten to death and his tongue removed. Meanwhile, a child has been poisoned in the local shop from a contaminated drink, the shop assistant Gina fleeing the scene and her boyfriend being arrested for drug dealing. Ginas aunt Moira & later Toms mother have been threatened online for money and are now both missing.
Tom & his team try to investigate what has happened they soon begin to discover that these crimes are linked.
As an old enemy is released from prison, Tom begins to worry for the safety of his family and without giving too much away, he was right to worry.
Although there is a lot going on throughout the book, I find this series very easy to follow and it is very engaging, I personally had opinions about certain characters behaviours throughout such as Ruths actions when her partner Jake split with her as he had found someone else, yet days before she was eyeing up new pathologist Rob and then going on a date with him a day after Jake left her. You will find yourself very invested in the characters especially if you’ve followed this series from book 1.
Overall I don’t have a bad word to say about Dead Wicked, it’s so well written and will have you hooked. Hopefully there will be more from Calladine & Bayliss
Thank you @joffebooks & @netgalley for an early copy of this to leave my honest review!
Dead Wicked is book 10 in the Calladine & Bayliss series. The main characters are reintroduced within the first few pages so you can read this as a stand-alone book and still understand what’s happening but I would recommend starting from book 1 as this is an amazing series and one of my favourites!
My favourite part about this series is that each book focuses on a different major crime so each is different but still has the backstory of Tom & his family running throughout.
The plot....
Tom Calladine has recently been promoted to acting DCI, a desk job he knows he will hate. He soon turns this down so he can get back out in the field doing what he does best.... solving crimes alongside his team.
A brutal murder has taken place on the local estate which has left a man beaten to death and his tongue removed. Meanwhile, a child has been poisoned in the local shop from a contaminated drink, the shop assistant Gina fleeing the scene and her boyfriend being arrested for drug dealing. Ginas aunt Moira & later Toms mother have been threatened online for money and are now both missing.
Tom & his team try to investigate what has happened they soon begin to discover that these crimes are linked.
As an old enemy is released from prison, Tom begins to worry for the safety of his family and without giving too much away, he was right to worry.
Although there is a lot going on throughout the book, I find this series very easy to follow and it is very engaging, I personally had opinions about certain characters behaviours throughout such as Ruths actions when her partner Jake split with her as he had found someone else, yet days before she was eyeing up new pathologist Rob and then going on a date with him a day after Jake left her. You will find yourself very invested in the characters especially if you’ve followed this series from book 1.
Overall I don’t have a bad word to say about Dead Wicked, it’s so well written and will have you hooked. Hopefully there will be more from Calladine & Bayliss
Thank you @joffebooks & @netgalley for an early copy of this to leave my honest review!
July 1, 2020
Book 10 already! Wow. Usual series rules apply - and it also helps if you've read the author's other series as a familiar face from one of them pops up here again.
So, Calladine has been sort of promoted to acting DCI, a job he is growing to hate. He's not a fan of being desk bound, he wants to be out there, investigating at the coal face. After some soul searching he decides to step down from the position. Little knowing who is about to fill his shoes... A match made in hell... Anyway, the crime he left his desk for is a body found on waste ground. His tongue having been stuffed down his throat. Along with Bayliss and the rest of the team, they have only just started their investigations when another similar body is found.
Meanwhile someone is targetting businesses with ransomwear, things going south very quickly should they refuse to pay up. Things take a more personal turn in this side of things for Calladine and he is forced to hand over the reins to his new boss - DCI Stephen Greco... Oh MY!
And that's all I'm going to say as it is a bit interconnected and convoluted as the plot meanders around and about itself all the way through. We have blasts from the past to in terms of historic cases that appear to be solved but there are still questions. All sounds a bit busy really but this author is very skilled in multi-thread crime investigation books and even with its complexity there is never a point where it all gets too much and, as the end approaches, it all comes together well and completely to my satisfaction.
I am also very excited with the reunion of Calladine, Bayliss and Greco. They seem to be rubbing along quite nicely in this first outing back together but I can see it going either way in subsequent books. Personally I am looking forward to seeing a bit of fur flying!
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
So, Calladine has been sort of promoted to acting DCI, a job he is growing to hate. He's not a fan of being desk bound, he wants to be out there, investigating at the coal face. After some soul searching he decides to step down from the position. Little knowing who is about to fill his shoes... A match made in hell... Anyway, the crime he left his desk for is a body found on waste ground. His tongue having been stuffed down his throat. Along with Bayliss and the rest of the team, they have only just started their investigations when another similar body is found.
Meanwhile someone is targetting businesses with ransomwear, things going south very quickly should they refuse to pay up. Things take a more personal turn in this side of things for Calladine and he is forced to hand over the reins to his new boss - DCI Stephen Greco... Oh MY!
And that's all I'm going to say as it is a bit interconnected and convoluted as the plot meanders around and about itself all the way through. We have blasts from the past to in terms of historic cases that appear to be solved but there are still questions. All sounds a bit busy really but this author is very skilled in multi-thread crime investigation books and even with its complexity there is never a point where it all gets too much and, as the end approaches, it all comes together well and completely to my satisfaction.
I am also very excited with the reunion of Calladine, Bayliss and Greco. They seem to be rubbing along quite nicely in this first outing back together but I can see it going either way in subsequent books. Personally I am looking forward to seeing a bit of fur flying!
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
July 22, 2020
In this 10th book in the series we find Tom Calladine has been moved up to DCI, however paper work is not really his thing he much prefers detective work, he decides to tell the Chief he wants to go back to working with his old team.
His wish is granted and he is replaced as DCI by Stephen Greco, not his favourite person having disagreed in the past.
Tom and his DS Ruth Bayliss find themselves dealing with the murder of a man found on waste ground.
He`s been badly beaten, stabbed, had his tongue cut out and forced back down his throat.
No sooner is he identified as Kieron Ramsey and another body is discovered dumped in a lake up in the hills. Once again the same brutal method has been used.
As they pursue information and try to discover the killers identity before he can strike again,Ruth finds her whole life falling apart as her personal relationship crumbles. Her husband leaves her for another woman and she`s left juggling child care and the murder investigation.
Toms personal life is thrown into a spin when his mothers business is targeted by a ransomware attack and all her refusal to pay up brings.
When Tom is told an old advisory has been released from prison and is living close by he immediately becomes the prime suspect.
This one is filled with twists and red herrings as the reader is led down a series of paths and they like Tom and Ruth discover that everything they believed to be true is wrong.
An addictive series I`m already looking forward to Tom and Ruth`s next case.
Many thanks to Joffe books for the chance to read this as an ARC.
His wish is granted and he is replaced as DCI by Stephen Greco, not his favourite person having disagreed in the past.
Tom and his DS Ruth Bayliss find themselves dealing with the murder of a man found on waste ground.
He`s been badly beaten, stabbed, had his tongue cut out and forced back down his throat.
No sooner is he identified as Kieron Ramsey and another body is discovered dumped in a lake up in the hills. Once again the same brutal method has been used.
As they pursue information and try to discover the killers identity before he can strike again,Ruth finds her whole life falling apart as her personal relationship crumbles. Her husband leaves her for another woman and she`s left juggling child care and the murder investigation.
Toms personal life is thrown into a spin when his mothers business is targeted by a ransomware attack and all her refusal to pay up brings.
When Tom is told an old advisory has been released from prison and is living close by he immediately becomes the prime suspect.
This one is filled with twists and red herrings as the reader is led down a series of paths and they like Tom and Ruth discover that everything they believed to be true is wrong.
An addictive series I`m already looking forward to Tom and Ruth`s next case.
Many thanks to Joffe books for the chance to read this as an ARC.
July 29, 2020
The 10th book in the Calladine and Bayliss series, Dead Wicked sees the two lead detectives re-evaluating their personal and professional lives. Calladine has been acting DCI but doesn't want to be stuck behind a desk so requests to return to his usual role. Bayliss's partner walks out on her and their son but she instantly starts up a relationship with new member of the forensic team.
The case is nasty: drugs, murder, blackmail and ransomware. One of the main suspects is newly released from prison after a crime involving Calladine's cousin. The new murders are in the same method as the old case. Can Calladine stop the killer before his own mother becomes the next victim...?
Calladine and Bayliss are very human and their personal issues bring a relatable and natural tone to the book. The arrival of a new DCI, Greco from one of Durrant's other series, brings a new professional dynamic to the police team.
The murders are grisly and the computer hacking makes the book bang up to date. I have only read Dead Guilty (book 9 in the series) so am unsure if the historic crimes are ones that have been dealt with in earlier books.
I absolutely loved this book until the final chapter and epilogue which I felt needed a little more exploration of the motive and interrogation of the killer, but this didn't spoil my overall enjoyment. It was a quick read as I literally couldn't put it down! The action was fast paced, the momentum kept up with the short chapters and I was completely engrossed in the plot. I can't wait for more of this series!
The case is nasty: drugs, murder, blackmail and ransomware. One of the main suspects is newly released from prison after a crime involving Calladine's cousin. The new murders are in the same method as the old case. Can Calladine stop the killer before his own mother becomes the next victim...?
Calladine and Bayliss are very human and their personal issues bring a relatable and natural tone to the book. The arrival of a new DCI, Greco from one of Durrant's other series, brings a new professional dynamic to the police team.
The murders are grisly and the computer hacking makes the book bang up to date. I have only read Dead Guilty (book 9 in the series) so am unsure if the historic crimes are ones that have been dealt with in earlier books.
I absolutely loved this book until the final chapter and epilogue which I felt needed a little more exploration of the motive and interrogation of the killer, but this didn't spoil my overall enjoyment. It was a quick read as I literally couldn't put it down! The action was fast paced, the momentum kept up with the short chapters and I was completely engrossed in the plot. I can't wait for more of this series!
June 26, 2020
DI Tom Calladine is hating being Acting DCI and and has turned down the full time post only to discover that the new DCI is Stephen Greco and they’ve never really got on. Tom is pleased to be called to a murder scene with his DS Ruth Bayliss after being stuck behind a desk for some time. The victim, Kieran Ramsey, has been badly beaten and his tongue cut out and stuffed down his throat. Shortly afterwards two local businesses are targeted by ransomware. A body is discovered in the ransomware case and the way Moira Haigh is discovered reminds Calladine of a previous case of his. Jimmy Merrill disappeared several years ago and his body never found but pictures of his body prior to disposal were found in the possession of the man later convicted of his murder, Clifford Machin. Machin has recently been released and Kieran used to frequent his Internet cafe in Huddersfield. All things point to Machin being responsible for the murders and the ransomware but is someone trying to point Calladine in the wrong direction and is this person closer to the team than they think?
Throughly enjoyed this book - murders, drug dealing, ransomware and plenty of suspects to keep you guessing. Love that DI Greco is now with Calladine & Bayliss as I love both series of books. Looking forward to the next one.
Thanks to Joffe Books and Helen H Durrant for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
Throughly enjoyed this book - murders, drug dealing, ransomware and plenty of suspects to keep you guessing. Love that DI Greco is now with Calladine & Bayliss as I love both series of books. Looking forward to the next one.
Thanks to Joffe Books and Helen H Durrant for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
August 20, 2020
It's a good thing that this is the last in the series (at least for now) as I really think I need a break from this author and this series.
As much as it pains me to say this, I have noticed that these aren't really original stories anymore. It's the same format as some of the other books that have come before (in this case right down to the fact that the victim's tongue was removed and they choked to death on their own blood) . This is at least the second time someone who has been convicted of murder has been released only to have an identical murder happen while they are out.
Also the same? The fact that the blurb says there is a massive twist - when honestly? It's pretty obvious early on who is the one behind things (especially considering this author's very annoying habit of making it someone close to the team).
Added to that, can anyone explain to me how after ten books the author gets the name of the main character's adoptive mother WRONG? And I don't mean she just misspelled it, or made an error one time. I mean she straight up changed the poor woman's name from Freda to Jean. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has pointed this out either.
I still remember these books as they used to be. When they were gripping and surprising. I hope that when I next come across another book (either by this author or in this series) they are more in line with the way I remember the others - surprising and original. Not stale and obvious.
As much as it pains me to say this, I have noticed that these aren't really original stories anymore. It's the same format as some of the other books that have come before (in this case right down to the fact that the victim's tongue was removed and they choked to death on their own blood) . This is at least the second time someone who has been convicted of murder has been released only to have an identical murder happen while they are out.
Also the same? The fact that the blurb says there is a massive twist - when honestly? It's pretty obvious early on who is the one behind things (especially considering this author's very annoying habit of making it someone close to the team).
Added to that, can anyone explain to me how after ten books the author gets the name of the main character's adoptive mother WRONG? And I don't mean she just misspelled it, or made an error one time. I mean she straight up changed the poor woman's name from Freda to Jean. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has pointed this out either.
I still remember these books as they used to be. When they were gripping and surprising. I hope that when I next come across another book (either by this author or in this series) they are more in line with the way I remember the others - surprising and original. Not stale and obvious.
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