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Henry Christie #27
Bad Timing
Can Henry Christie catch a merciless gunman? A breakneck novel of revenge, justice and organised crime.
Henry Christie thought he'd solved the case that drew him out of retirement, but finds himself joining forces with Diane Daniels once again when the body of a young woman is discovered close to the scene of the chilling murders that took place at Hawkshead Farm. The deaths appear to be linked, and when Henry and Diane stumble upon an execution in progress and narrowly avoid becoming victims themselves, Henry embarks on a mission to bring a merciless gunman to justice, as well as a very personal quest for revenge.
Does Henry still have what it takes to catch a ruthless serial killer? Propelled on to a trail of criminality involving money laundering and serious organized crime that stretches from Lancashire to London, Henry's bravery and resolve is about to tested to its very limits.
Henry Christie thought he'd solved the case that drew him out of retirement, but finds himself joining forces with Diane Daniels once again when the body of a young woman is discovered close to the scene of the chilling murders that took place at Hawkshead Farm. The deaths appear to be linked, and when Henry and Diane stumble upon an execution in progress and narrowly avoid becoming victims themselves, Henry embarks on a mission to bring a merciless gunman to justice, as well as a very personal quest for revenge.
Does Henry still have what it takes to catch a ruthless serial killer? Propelled on to a trail of criminality involving money laundering and serious organized crime that stretches from Lancashire to London, Henry's bravery and resolve is about to tested to its very limits.
222 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2020
About the author
Nick Oldham
43 books38 followersNick Oldham was born in Belthorn, Lancashire, in 1956. He has been a police officer since the age of nineteen, spending the majority of his service in operational roles, before retiring in 2005. He lives with his partner, Belinda, on the outskirts of Preston.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 21, 2020
Henry may have retired but he keeps being pulled back into bad situations. Along with DC Diane Daniels, he's done multiple investigation and this one is perhaps, one of the most gruesome. First he finds a body then he, along with Diane, are drawn into a web of death. This is a tautly written topical procedural of sorts with good characters and a fast moving plot. I've only read a couple of the books in this vey long running series but that didn't matter- it's fine as a standalone. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A page turner.
November 1, 2020
Nick Oldham is an author new to me but I enjoyed this book so much I can now look forward to savouring a backlist of about thirty books.
This is thriller writing at its very best, a complex plot, jam-packed full of action and violence, with well-rounded characters one feels happy to love or hate.
The author has a very contemporary approach, using crimes that are so often in the headlines today: people trafficking, drug barons, murder, money-laundering, fraud and kidnap.
A rollercoaster ride of action, violence and murder.
This is thriller writing at its very best, a complex plot, jam-packed full of action and violence, with well-rounded characters one feels happy to love or hate.
The author has a very contemporary approach, using crimes that are so often in the headlines today: people trafficking, drug barons, murder, money-laundering, fraud and kidnap.
A rollercoaster ride of action, violence and murder.
September 12, 2020
I would like to thank Netgalley and Severn House Publishers for an advance copy of Bad Timing, the twenty seventh novel to feature now retired Detective Superintendent Henry Christie.
Henry is caught back up in his previous case when he finds the body of a murdered young woman. She is quickly identified as the daughter of parents who were murdered a month earlier. He teams up again with D.C. Diane Daniels to investigate the murder and they soon find themselves on the hunt for a merciless gunman.
I thoroughly enjoyed Bad Timing which is an exciting adventure that takes up a month after the events of the preceding novel, Wildfire. It is an eventful novel with a high body count and a fair amount of tension.
The novel is told from both Henry Christie’s and the killer’s points of view. I like the logical narrative from Henry as one discovery leads to another but the killer’s is something different. I found his callous indifference to human life and all other needs but his own bone chilling. The author does an excellent job in this respect, not by anything fancy but by making killing simply another task on his route to his end objective. There is plenty of action as Henry chases the killer and widens the scope of his enquiries as events develop. It kept me entertained from start to finish.
Bad Timing is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
Henry is caught back up in his previous case when he finds the body of a murdered young woman. She is quickly identified as the daughter of parents who were murdered a month earlier. He teams up again with D.C. Diane Daniels to investigate the murder and they soon find themselves on the hunt for a merciless gunman.
I thoroughly enjoyed Bad Timing which is an exciting adventure that takes up a month after the events of the preceding novel, Wildfire. It is an eventful novel with a high body count and a fair amount of tension.
The novel is told from both Henry Christie’s and the killer’s points of view. I like the logical narrative from Henry as one discovery leads to another but the killer’s is something different. I found his callous indifference to human life and all other needs but his own bone chilling. The author does an excellent job in this respect, not by anything fancy but by making killing simply another task on his route to his end objective. There is plenty of action as Henry chases the killer and widens the scope of his enquiries as events develop. It kept me entertained from start to finish.
Bad Timing is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
December 23, 2020
Bad Timing is book 27 in the Henry Christie mystery series and, to the best of my recollection, the first one I've read. It's unlikely that I'll be reading any of the others.
It was probably a mistake on my part to jump into a series so far along (I hadn't realized it was such a long running series), although it more or less works as a standalone book the overall plot is choppy and inconsistent.
The villains are great (if a little over-the-top) - they're interesting, richly drawn, fully realized characters that really move their part of the story. The "good guys" are, quite frankly, dull as dishwater. The author seems to have counted on the reader having a certain amount of familiarity with the main character and his comrades, so they just never come alive in any significant way and the story suffers for it. The shifting perspective makes for a very uneven narrative that is ultimately unsatisfying.
I suspect it you are familiar with the series then you will appreciate this book more since you already have a connection to the characters. This is definitely not the one to start with.
***I received a free digital copy of this title through NetGalley
It was probably a mistake on my part to jump into a series so far along (I hadn't realized it was such a long running series), although it more or less works as a standalone book the overall plot is choppy and inconsistent.
The villains are great (if a little over-the-top) - they're interesting, richly drawn, fully realized characters that really move their part of the story. The "good guys" are, quite frankly, dull as dishwater. The author seems to have counted on the reader having a certain amount of familiarity with the main character and his comrades, so they just never come alive in any significant way and the story suffers for it. The shifting perspective makes for a very uneven narrative that is ultimately unsatisfying.
I suspect it you are familiar with the series then you will appreciate this book more since you already have a connection to the characters. This is definitely not the one to start with.
***I received a free digital copy of this title through NetGalley
December 30, 2020
Another taut thriller for 'retired' Henry Christie! ( Book 27 )
'Bad Timing' is another high octane investigation for Henry Christie. He is persuaded to come out of retirement again. A dangerous killer is still on the loose in his locality in Lancashire. Although Henry runs the Tawny Owl pub, he is delighted to persuade Superintendent Rik Dean to work as a consultant with the police, using his past experience and expertise.
I always enjoy reading a novel by Nick Oldham, and this is no exception. It follows on from' Wildfire'. A young woman's body is discovered not far from the farmhouse where her parents were brutally murdered a month earlier.
Henry has a great working relationship with Diane Daniels so that yet again they become embroiled in another thrilling page-turning investigation involving money laundering, theft, grisly murders and really hard-nosed gangsters. The trail takes them around the country and down to London. There are twists and turns galore, with well-drawn characters, some of whom are chilling and grotesque, making it a must-have read for all lovers of this genre.
Galadriel.
Elite Reviewing Group received a copy of this book to review.
'Bad Timing' is another high octane investigation for Henry Christie. He is persuaded to come out of retirement again. A dangerous killer is still on the loose in his locality in Lancashire. Although Henry runs the Tawny Owl pub, he is delighted to persuade Superintendent Rik Dean to work as a consultant with the police, using his past experience and expertise.
I always enjoy reading a novel by Nick Oldham, and this is no exception. It follows on from' Wildfire'. A young woman's body is discovered not far from the farmhouse where her parents were brutally murdered a month earlier.
Henry has a great working relationship with Diane Daniels so that yet again they become embroiled in another thrilling page-turning investigation involving money laundering, theft, grisly murders and really hard-nosed gangsters. The trail takes them around the country and down to London. There are twists and turns galore, with well-drawn characters, some of whom are chilling and grotesque, making it a must-have read for all lovers of this genre.
Galadriel.
Elite Reviewing Group received a copy of this book to review.
October 22, 2023
A very enjoyable police procedural. This is the first book of this Henry Christie series that I have read & now I'd like to go back to #1 & see him as a young man. In this book the eponymous Henry is retired from the force but is brought in occasionally as a consultant. I liked the police procedures, even if they were many & a little over the top, & the relationship with Diane Reynolds. I really want o see more of these characters.
January 4, 2021
A complex, fast faced and highly entertaining thriller that kept me on the edge till the end.
Excellent character development and storytelling, a tightly knitted plot full of twists and turns.
I read other books in this series but this one can be read as a standalone.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
Excellent character development and storytelling, a tightly knitted plot full of twists and turns.
I read other books in this series but this one can be read as a standalone.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
April 26, 2026
Another incredible story in the series, written with the characteristic fast pace and drama. I do miss however Christie being in the police, rather than being just an advisor.
May 22, 2021
Very enjoyable read.
June 9, 2023
Another great book from Nick Oldham.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews