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Detectives Lennox & Wilde #2
The Faceless Man
A teenage boy is found murdered in a local park. Stabbed to death and set alight to destroy the evidence.
Detectives Harry Lennox and Jess Wilde soon learn his identity and find his bedroom wall decorated with photographs of the victims of unsolved murders.
There are images of three people who appear to be the next victims. One of them is the faceless man, a blank cut-out with no features.
Jess and Harry must find the killer before the next target dies. And Harry is guarding a secret that could destroy everything he’s built.
Detectives Harry Lennox and Jess Wilde soon learn his identity and find his bedroom wall decorated with photographs of the victims of unsolved murders.
There are images of three people who appear to be the next victims. One of them is the faceless man, a blank cut-out with no features.
Jess and Harry must find the killer before the next target dies. And Harry is guarding a secret that could destroy everything he’s built.
226 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 25, 2021
572 people are currently reading
185 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
August 23, 2021
The Faceless Man by Helen H. Durrant is the second in the Detectives Lennox & Wilde series.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Joffe Books, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Series Background: (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)
DI Harry Lennox and DS Jess Wilde are detectives in Ryebridge in Northern England. They have been working together for the last couple of years. Harry's past is slowly coming to light, as we have learned that both his twin brother Paul and his father were killed in a suspicious fire in Scotland, while Harry was trying to take down a crime lord. He doesn't talk about it, and his true identity is being brought into question. He has recently had to find other sleeping arrangements as his friend's campervan was set ablaze, hoping for Harry's demise. Jess is living with her parents, but saving for a house of her own. Their boss is Superintendent Roderick Croft.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
When the body of teenager Dean Greenwood is found stabbed to death in a local park, Harry and Jess learn that the young man felt he was on the hunt for a serial killer. It looks like he may have been right, and it got him killed. Dean's bedroom walls and computers were a wealth of information, and identifying the pictures on his boards lead them to other murders and to three as-yet unidentified people that may be the killer's next victims. One of them is just a blank cut-out of a faceless man.
So Jess and Harry, with the assistance of officer Colin Vance, are trying to track down these people before they are the next victims of this killer.
Meanwhile, Harry is still being hounded by his past.
My Opinions:
Still not positive I like the characters. Harry works on "instinct", and Jess works with facts. That sounds great, but they are often at odds with each other, which sometimes makes for tense reading. Harry is still hiding stuff about his past, and Jess is still nit-picking. By the end of the book things were a bit better.
Again, a couple of things were dropped, for example did they ever look into what officer took and ignored Dean's original call?
I'm still not convinced this series is going to live up to my expectations. I love the author, and her writing is good. The plot was interesting and the twists good, but I think it's just that I'm not sure about the characters. They aren't really growing on me.
However, it was still a fast and entertaining read.
For a more complete review of this book and others (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, as well as author information), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
April 13, 2021
THE FACELESS MAN is the second book in a new crime fiction series, (DI Harry Lennox/DS Jess Wilde #1 by best-selling author Helen H. Durrant. Having enjoyed the first book in the series, The Guilty Man, and her other series, I was looking forward to continuing with this new series.
THE DETECTIVES LENNOX & WILDE SERIES
Book1: The Guilty Man (2020)
Book2: The Faceless Man (2021)
THE DETECTIVES
DI HARRY LENNOX began his career in Glasgow, but due to a traumatic incident, transferred to West Yorkshire and then Ryebridge. Harry is single, thirty-five and has a chaotic lifestyle. Currently living on a mate’s drive in a campervan. This is down to his girlfriend throwing him out. Harry’s life is a mess…he is living in a beat-up camper van, little facilities and drunk most nights, and had split up with his partner a month ago.
DS JESS WILDE is thirty and still lives with her parents. She is unattached and keen to progress in her career. She gets on well with Harry. He doesn’t have much time for protocol, and this suits her. She is critical of how he lives. She is about to buy her first property locally.
Now in book 2, Jess continues to learn more about her partner, Harry, but he has at least moved out of his camper and is now sharing a flat share with DC Colin Vance.
Harry Lennox and DS Jess Wilde are called to investigate the discovery of a teenage boy found stabbed and burned in a boat.
The victim was Dean Greenwood and he lived with his mother.
When Harry and Jess begin their investigation into Dean’s death they find that Dean’s laptop and cell phone are both missing. On the wall of Dean’s bedroom was a board listing victims and possible killers, a series of murders carried out by a paid assassin. All the detectives had to do was to find a killer known as the faceless man. This person is very careful to not leave evidence behind to identify him.
This was a good suspense read, with the plot centering around drugs, murder, and blackmail. A great continuation to a promising series.
Many thanks to the author, Joffe Books and Netgalley for my digital copy.
THE DETECTIVES LENNOX & WILDE SERIES
Book1: The Guilty Man (2020)
Book2: The Faceless Man (2021)
THE DETECTIVES
DI HARRY LENNOX began his career in Glasgow, but due to a traumatic incident, transferred to West Yorkshire and then Ryebridge. Harry is single, thirty-five and has a chaotic lifestyle. Currently living on a mate’s drive in a campervan. This is down to his girlfriend throwing him out. Harry’s life is a mess…he is living in a beat-up camper van, little facilities and drunk most nights, and had split up with his partner a month ago.
DS JESS WILDE is thirty and still lives with her parents. She is unattached and keen to progress in her career. She gets on well with Harry. He doesn’t have much time for protocol, and this suits her. She is critical of how he lives. She is about to buy her first property locally.
Now in book 2, Jess continues to learn more about her partner, Harry, but he has at least moved out of his camper and is now sharing a flat share with DC Colin Vance.
Harry Lennox and DS Jess Wilde are called to investigate the discovery of a teenage boy found stabbed and burned in a boat.
The victim was Dean Greenwood and he lived with his mother.
When Harry and Jess begin their investigation into Dean’s death they find that Dean’s laptop and cell phone are both missing. On the wall of Dean’s bedroom was a board listing victims and possible killers, a series of murders carried out by a paid assassin. All the detectives had to do was to find a killer known as the faceless man. This person is very careful to not leave evidence behind to identify him.
This was a good suspense read, with the plot centering around drugs, murder, and blackmail. A great continuation to a promising series.
Many thanks to the author, Joffe Books and Netgalley for my digital copy.
October 23, 2021
Probably closer to a three-star, but such a quick instalment in the Lennox/Wilde series, I'll go with the rounded up rating.
182 pages of very quick reading! Detectives Harry Lennox and Jess Wilde return, and they are on the hunt for an assassin. Following the death of a teenager, the story unfolds and spirals into a fascinating investigation with lots of twists and turns. So many; in fact, it did start to seem a bit much. Reading Book One is not necessary before this one as there is enough to get the story. Not much is revealed about Harry, but this will also make me read the next one in this series.
Great potential.
182 pages of very quick reading! Detectives Harry Lennox and Jess Wilde return, and they are on the hunt for an assassin. Following the death of a teenager, the story unfolds and spirals into a fascinating investigation with lots of twists and turns. So many; in fact, it did start to seem a bit much. Reading Book One is not necessary before this one as there is enough to get the story. Not much is revealed about Harry, but this will also make me read the next one in this series.
Great potential.
February 25, 2021
When a teenage boy is found stabbed and then set on fire, Detectives Harry Lennox and Jess Wilde go into overdrive.
When the boy is finally identified, they also discover that the boy's bedroom wall is filled with photos of victims of unsolved crimes. The more they investigate, the more they learn what the young man was involved in ... and none of it was good.
And his body is not the only one to fall.
It's a new serial killer on the loose ... or is it an assassin? And why is Lennox worried that his well-kept secret might be connected to these murders?
The intricate plot involves murder, blackmail, drugs. Action and suspense starts at the very first page and holds steady until the final unexpected conclusion. The characters are deftly drawn. Although 2nd in the series, this is easily read as a stand alone. However, I recommend reading them in order. The relationship between the detectives .. and the backstory .. is riveting.
Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books / Books n All Promotions / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
When the boy is finally identified, they also discover that the boy's bedroom wall is filled with photos of victims of unsolved crimes. The more they investigate, the more they learn what the young man was involved in ... and none of it was good.
And his body is not the only one to fall.
It's a new serial killer on the loose ... or is it an assassin? And why is Lennox worried that his well-kept secret might be connected to these murders?
The intricate plot involves murder, blackmail, drugs. Action and suspense starts at the very first page and holds steady until the final unexpected conclusion. The characters are deftly drawn. Although 2nd in the series, this is easily read as a stand alone. However, I recommend reading them in order. The relationship between the detectives .. and the backstory .. is riveting.
Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books / Books n All Promotions / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
February 20, 2021
A teenage boy has been found murderedin a local park. He had been stabbed to death and set on alight to destroy the evidence. Detectives Harry Lennox and Jess Wilde soon learn his identy and find his bedroom wall decorated with photographs of the victims of unsolved murders. There are images of people who appear to be the next victims. One of them is the faceless man, a blank cut-out with no festures. Jess and Harry must find this killer before the nest target dies.
Detectives Harry Lennox and Jess Wilde are looking for a paid assassin. It all started with the death of a local boy which then quickly spirals out of control. With lots of twists and surprises, this is an interesting whodunit. Harry is hiding something but we are not quite sure what it is. This is a quick read with just 182 pages. This new aeries is starting to show potential.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #JoffeBooks and the author #HelenHDurrant for my ARC #TheFacelessMan in exchange for an honest review.
Detectives Harry Lennox and Jess Wilde are looking for a paid assassin. It all started with the death of a local boy which then quickly spirals out of control. With lots of twists and surprises, this is an interesting whodunit. Harry is hiding something but we are not quite sure what it is. This is a quick read with just 182 pages. This new aeries is starting to show potential.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #JoffeBooks and the author #HelenHDurrant for my ARC #TheFacelessMan in exchange for an honest review.
February 28, 2021
This is the second book in the DI Lennox and DS Jess Wilde series by author Helen H Durrant and unfortunately I wasn’t completely sold on it. I have read most of this authors books and love the other series she writes, Calladine and Bayliss, DI Greco, DCI Rachel King but this one didn’t leave me wanting more. I had much the same experience with the first book ‘The Guilty Man’ but sometimes it takes a while to get into a series. The story was decent but I failed to connect with the lead characters.
Teenager Dean Greenwood is found stabbed and DI Harry Lennox and DS Jess Wilde are given the case. When searching the family home they discover Dean’s wall is covered in the photos of other victims. The race is on to discover the killer before they strike again.
A decent crime novel but not the authors best work.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Joffe Books for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Teenager Dean Greenwood is found stabbed and DI Harry Lennox and DS Jess Wilde are given the case. When searching the family home they discover Dean’s wall is covered in the photos of other victims. The race is on to discover the killer before they strike again.
A decent crime novel but not the authors best work.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Joffe Books for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
February 23, 2021
The Faceless Man is the second instalment in the DI Harry Lennox and DS Jess Wilde series, set in the fictional northern town of Ryebridge near Manchester. Harry and Jess are called out to investigate when a local teenager is discovered dead in Cheetham Park. However, when they arrive it's clear he has been stabbed to death in a frenzied attack rather than it being an accident. Not only has he been bludgeoned several times but he has also been set alight with an accelerant too, presumably in an effort to destroy any evidence that the killer may have unwittingly left behind. But why would anyone want to murder a young man in the prime of his life? Once his identity is confirmed by the police as Dean Greenwood the pair must journey to his home to give the dreaded news to his family. After learning what has happened in her son’s last moments on earth his mother becomes distraught and can't bear the thought of him being made to suffer like that before he was taken. While there they ask if they could examine his bedroom to see if anything strange pops out at them or they spot anything that could be worth following up in case it links to his slaying. I think it would be fair to say that Harry and Jess certainly were not expecting to uncover what they did. Somewhat shockingly Dean’s walls feature a large display of photographs and articles of murder victims that are known to the police but whose cases have not been solved. However, out of those present the police believe three of them are potential victims as they assume each to be still alive.
When they check out the third person that is depicted they realise he is faceless and use this to deduce that this must be the unidentified serial killer they've long believed to be prowling the area hence the priority lies with identifying, locating and protecting the other two before it's too late. It isn't long into the discoveries that Harry and Jess are called to central command in Manchester to discuss what has now been named Operation Songbird. Usually, they would not be investigators on a case this complex, but as they are the ones that uncovered the important findings in Dean’s home they are to investigate alongside officers and detectives from the city of Manchester. The investigation is intensive and sprawling and while they are close to the truth they are still without much of the evidence to bring down the apparent hitman and whoever hired him. The criminals seem to be one step ahead of the police at every turn, but with more bodies dropping it's surely just a matter of time before they slip up, right? This is a riveting, compulsive and engrossing thriller from one of the best suspense writers in the game and I must say, there is so much more going on here than first meets the eye, including corruption, blackmail and hitmen for hire. It's creepy, disturbing and full of small, intricate details that just put the icing on the cake in terms of it being a superbly gripping read. There is plenty of action, drama, twists and shocks and it all moves at a swift pace making it easy to race through the pages. It's a gritty, multilayered and addictive tale that begins with a bang and ends with an even bigger one. You cannot go wrong with Helen Durrant. Highly recommended.
When they check out the third person that is depicted they realise he is faceless and use this to deduce that this must be the unidentified serial killer they've long believed to be prowling the area hence the priority lies with identifying, locating and protecting the other two before it's too late. It isn't long into the discoveries that Harry and Jess are called to central command in Manchester to discuss what has now been named Operation Songbird. Usually, they would not be investigators on a case this complex, but as they are the ones that uncovered the important findings in Dean’s home they are to investigate alongside officers and detectives from the city of Manchester. The investigation is intensive and sprawling and while they are close to the truth they are still without much of the evidence to bring down the apparent hitman and whoever hired him. The criminals seem to be one step ahead of the police at every turn, but with more bodies dropping it's surely just a matter of time before they slip up, right? This is a riveting, compulsive and engrossing thriller from one of the best suspense writers in the game and I must say, there is so much more going on here than first meets the eye, including corruption, blackmail and hitmen for hire. It's creepy, disturbing and full of small, intricate details that just put the icing on the cake in terms of it being a superbly gripping read. There is plenty of action, drama, twists and shocks and it all moves at a swift pace making it easy to race through the pages. It's a gritty, multilayered and addictive tale that begins with a bang and ends with an even bigger one. You cannot go wrong with Helen Durrant. Highly recommended.
April 14, 2021
The Faceless Man is the second instalment in Helen H. Durrant's series set in the rundown town of Ryebridge, Northern England, featuring DI Harry Lennox and DS Jess Wilde.
A teenager has been found by a passer-by in Cheetham Park having been stabbed and burned. He is named as Dean Greenwood so Jess and Harry make the journey to his home to break the dreaded news to his family. After learning the details of her son's final moments his mother becomes distraught. Whilst there they examine his bedroom to see if anything could be worth following up that links to his slaying. Shockingly Dean’s walls feature a large display of photographs and articles of murder victims that are known to the police but whose cases have not been solved. Three of the photographs are of particular interest and one of them, depicted as faceless, is thought to be an unidentified serial killer on the loose.
Blackmail, corruption and ruthless criminals all have a place in The Faceless Man. It was an absorbing and riveting read with a plot that gripped me. As the pace galloped along I was racing to find out what would be occurring next. It was a terrifying and creepy police procedural with multiple storylines that were equally engrossing. With many twists I didn't see coming, I was regularly caught off-guard. Helen H. Durrant has really taken time to create her deep and complex main characters and I was rooting for them all the way. A good, menacing, tension-filled story with a cracking unexpected ending, I can't wait to see what treats will be in store when book three is released. I'm very much looking forward to seeing Lennox and Wilde evolve. Very highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Joffe Books via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
A teenager has been found by a passer-by in Cheetham Park having been stabbed and burned. He is named as Dean Greenwood so Jess and Harry make the journey to his home to break the dreaded news to his family. After learning the details of her son's final moments his mother becomes distraught. Whilst there they examine his bedroom to see if anything could be worth following up that links to his slaying. Shockingly Dean’s walls feature a large display of photographs and articles of murder victims that are known to the police but whose cases have not been solved. Three of the photographs are of particular interest and one of them, depicted as faceless, is thought to be an unidentified serial killer on the loose.
Blackmail, corruption and ruthless criminals all have a place in The Faceless Man. It was an absorbing and riveting read with a plot that gripped me. As the pace galloped along I was racing to find out what would be occurring next. It was a terrifying and creepy police procedural with multiple storylines that were equally engrossing. With many twists I didn't see coming, I was regularly caught off-guard. Helen H. Durrant has really taken time to create her deep and complex main characters and I was rooting for them all the way. A good, menacing, tension-filled story with a cracking unexpected ending, I can't wait to see what treats will be in store when book three is released. I'm very much looking forward to seeing Lennox and Wilde evolve. Very highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Joffe Books via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
February 18, 2021
I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of The Faceless Man, the second novel to feature DI Harry Lennox and DS Jess Wilde, set in the fictional northern town of Ryebridge.
Teenager Dean Greenwood is stabbed to death and his body set on fire in the local park. When Harry and Jess examine his bedroom they find pictures of murder victims and three people, who they surmise may be potential victims. The third person on this wall is faceless so the priority is identifying the other two.
I enjoyed The Faceless Man much better than its predecessor, The Guilty Man. This is more enticing with so many puzzles to work out, like the killer’s identity and motive and the links between the victims. As a further hook it would appear that many of the witnesses are either outright lying or at least being economical with the truth. It’s a big stew of seemingly unrelated facts at the beginning, but gradually a picture emerges over the course of the novel. The reveals come at a steady pace, enough for me to guess some elements, but not enough to get the full picture, especially as the ending is a real surprise.
In the meantime DI Harry Lennox is trying to keep his past a secret. Several people have insinuated that he is not Harry, but his twin, Paul, a painter and decorator who was killed in a house fire. Having read this novel the issue is not settled but I think there is much more to it than identity theft. I’ll look forward to more clarification in the next novel.
The Faceless Man is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
Teenager Dean Greenwood is stabbed to death and his body set on fire in the local park. When Harry and Jess examine his bedroom they find pictures of murder victims and three people, who they surmise may be potential victims. The third person on this wall is faceless so the priority is identifying the other two.
I enjoyed The Faceless Man much better than its predecessor, The Guilty Man. This is more enticing with so many puzzles to work out, like the killer’s identity and motive and the links between the victims. As a further hook it would appear that many of the witnesses are either outright lying or at least being economical with the truth. It’s a big stew of seemingly unrelated facts at the beginning, but gradually a picture emerges over the course of the novel. The reveals come at a steady pace, enough for me to guess some elements, but not enough to get the full picture, especially as the ending is a real surprise.
In the meantime DI Harry Lennox is trying to keep his past a secret. Several people have insinuated that he is not Harry, but his twin, Paul, a painter and decorator who was killed in a house fire. Having read this novel the issue is not settled but I think there is much more to it than identity theft. I’ll look forward to more clarification in the next novel.
The Faceless Man is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
March 16, 2021
I really enjoyed this book; a second in the Detectives Lennox & Wilde series, but can easily be read as a stand-alone.
There is something that Harry isn't telling us about his past and this heightened my interest. He is very reluctant to talk and Jess is eager to find out his secrets. I did feel that she pushed him too much and it got me thinking how I'd feel if it were my working partner. Would I be as keen to find out?
The story is very well written and fast - paced, with plenty of tension that had me gripped from start to finish. Characters I didn't know if I could trust, and the case was just one great big mystery.
Harry and Jess have a head start really - the first victim knows who killed him and has left clues behind - but do they help move the case forward and can they solve the mystery of the 'blank face' before it's too late?!
With a pain in the backside that Harry could well do without, especially with him working flat out trying to solve the case, I loved the twists that threw me off scent and I can only praise this book - I highly recommend it!
My thanks to the publisher via NetGalley.
There is something that Harry isn't telling us about his past and this heightened my interest. He is very reluctant to talk and Jess is eager to find out his secrets. I did feel that she pushed him too much and it got me thinking how I'd feel if it were my working partner. Would I be as keen to find out?
The story is very well written and fast - paced, with plenty of tension that had me gripped from start to finish. Characters I didn't know if I could trust, and the case was just one great big mystery.
Harry and Jess have a head start really - the first victim knows who killed him and has left clues behind - but do they help move the case forward and can they solve the mystery of the 'blank face' before it's too late?!
With a pain in the backside that Harry could well do without, especially with him working flat out trying to solve the case, I loved the twists that threw me off scent and I can only praise this book - I highly recommend it!
My thanks to the publisher via NetGalley.
February 27, 2021
I haven’t read the first book, so this was my first time reading about Harry & Jess. Obviously some things happened before this book so at times I didn’t know what had happened, but it didn’t cause me to dislike anything. Harry definitely has some secrets though, for which I’ll assume will be slowly revealed in upcoming books. This investigation starts off with a young man that is murdered & on his bedroom wall seems to be other murders that have happened or might happen. Now Harry & Jess need to figure out what the hell it’s all about. When another murder happens they rush against time to reveal who is behind them before another is gone. With so many witnesses lying it makes for a hard time for them. This was very fast paced and well written enough that I read it within a few hours. I will be looking out for the next book because I want to know what Harry is hiding.
*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
February 16, 2021
Detective Lennox and Wilde Book two Thriller.
Jess Wilde is waiting for harry Lennox as he's been back up Scotland both have been called to a reported accident that turns out to be a murder at Cheetham park Ryebridge Manchester it has its troubles with kids but nothing like this, A lad set on fire with petrol is not a pretty sight, the park is quiet most days but not far out from the run down estate Baxendale groups gather at night drinking and fighting in there.
the poor lad lying in a boat on the lake his face is easily showing so he is identified as Dean Greenwood. What links does dean know about? with more murders coming in this book we have yet to find out to who is the murderer and why.
such a gripping read, I got goosebumps, brilliant stories and characters, love this second book in the series and hopefully not long to wait for more.
Jess Wilde is waiting for harry Lennox as he's been back up Scotland both have been called to a reported accident that turns out to be a murder at Cheetham park Ryebridge Manchester it has its troubles with kids but nothing like this, A lad set on fire with petrol is not a pretty sight, the park is quiet most days but not far out from the run down estate Baxendale groups gather at night drinking and fighting in there.
the poor lad lying in a boat on the lake his face is easily showing so he is identified as Dean Greenwood. What links does dean know about? with more murders coming in this book we have yet to find out to who is the murderer and why.
such a gripping read, I got goosebumps, brilliant stories and characters, love this second book in the series and hopefully not long to wait for more.
July 7, 2021
I have to say I am just not engaging with this pair as I have with the other series. But maybe it will need a bit longer to fall in love.
April 26, 2021
I always know I'm in for a good story when I open a Helen Durrant book - and this one is no different!
When Lennox and Wilde are called to the local park they find the body of a teenage lad, first stabbed to death and then set alight. When they visit his home, they find his bedroom holds plenty of clues. With a wall of unsolved murders, photographs of three people pinpointed as the next victims include a blank cut-out of the faceless man. Jess and Harry have got to find out what's going on and stop any further murders, but Harry has other things going on in his life. Can they solve their latest case - and in time to prevent any more deaths?
I'm sorry to say I missed the first in this series (too many good books, too little reading time), but it is fairly easy to come in to this second one. All the best crimee thrillers have something going on with the investigating officers and this time we don't really know what it is that Harry's hiding. The murder itself opens a can of worms, with twists and turns to muddy the waters the reader is kept on their toes throughout. The team work well together - each with their strengths which are used well by the lead detectives. Did I guess 'whodunnit'? I briefly considered them early on then dismissed the notion - felt a right fool when it was revealed. A gripping, enigmatic read, beautifully plotted and eloquently written. I'm already looking forward to the next in this series, it's definitely one to keep me hooked. A full five stars and my recommendation to all crime lovers.
When Lennox and Wilde are called to the local park they find the body of a teenage lad, first stabbed to death and then set alight. When they visit his home, they find his bedroom holds plenty of clues. With a wall of unsolved murders, photographs of three people pinpointed as the next victims include a blank cut-out of the faceless man. Jess and Harry have got to find out what's going on and stop any further murders, but Harry has other things going on in his life. Can they solve their latest case - and in time to prevent any more deaths?
I'm sorry to say I missed the first in this series (too many good books, too little reading time), but it is fairly easy to come in to this second one. All the best crimee thrillers have something going on with the investigating officers and this time we don't really know what it is that Harry's hiding. The murder itself opens a can of worms, with twists and turns to muddy the waters the reader is kept on their toes throughout. The team work well together - each with their strengths which are used well by the lead detectives. Did I guess 'whodunnit'? I briefly considered them early on then dismissed the notion - felt a right fool when it was revealed. A gripping, enigmatic read, beautifully plotted and eloquently written. I'm already looking forward to the next in this series, it's definitely one to keep me hooked. A full five stars and my recommendation to all crime lovers.
January 5, 2023
Having read the first two books in this series I don't think I'll read any more. I found them a bit annoying. There are so many strong hints to his back story but it never gets anywhere and despite her initial curiosity and doubts she very suddenly and for no really good reason completely changes her mind and believes entirely that he is what he says he is . No doubt at some future date the real truth will be revealed but it hasn't gripped me enough for me to care. Even so it is also quite predictable. I had a good idea fairly early on who the faceless man was which was reinforced by one particular incident which seemed a bit too convenient and turned out to have been orchestrated by the victim.
April 7, 2024
An audiobook which was enjoyable - I’d almost worked out who the assassin was but not really why. Have the third one ready to listen too which I hope will resolve all the remaining questions - I don’t think it can stand too many more following this line of question although the team could continue.
July 26, 2024
A good read except that I picked the end again!
February 17, 2021
182 pages
3 stars
DS Jess Wilde and DI Harry Lennox have a real puzzler on their hands in this second in the series. They respond to the stabbing death of a teenager named Dean. After finding his identity, they visit his home. His mother is destroyed. He was a good boy. The neighbors are also at her home.
When they search his bedroom, they find on the wall a startling display. The young man has pictures and articles of dead persons. But, he also has a few there who are not dead. When they ascertain that these are potential victims of a serial killer, the case heats up.
When Lennox and Wilde are called to Manchester (to see the big boys), they know that this is a special case. Operation Songbird, as it is called, is basically a very complex investigation into certain individuals. Some of the Manchester police are glad to have them join in, some are not so happy.
Through much intense investigation and scary action, the police come closer to solving the case. They need more evidence.
It seems Dean has opened a real can of worms.Still ping-ponging around, they feel an increasing sense of urgency. People on the list are being murdered. How do they catch this man?
Underlying it all, is the ongoing question of Lennox' mysterious past.
This is a pretty good book, although not as good as Ms. Durrant's other series. The story is pretty convoluted. Sadly, I am not that interested in Harry's identity. Whether he is really his dead twin brother Paul was a little intriguing in the first book, but it was tiresome in this one. I will stick to her other books.
I want to thank NetGalley and Joffe Books for forwarding to me a copy of this book for me to read and review.
3 stars
DS Jess Wilde and DI Harry Lennox have a real puzzler on their hands in this second in the series. They respond to the stabbing death of a teenager named Dean. After finding his identity, they visit his home. His mother is destroyed. He was a good boy. The neighbors are also at her home.
When they search his bedroom, they find on the wall a startling display. The young man has pictures and articles of dead persons. But, he also has a few there who are not dead. When they ascertain that these are potential victims of a serial killer, the case heats up.
When Lennox and Wilde are called to Manchester (to see the big boys), they know that this is a special case. Operation Songbird, as it is called, is basically a very complex investigation into certain individuals. Some of the Manchester police are glad to have them join in, some are not so happy.
Through much intense investigation and scary action, the police come closer to solving the case. They need more evidence.
It seems Dean has opened a real can of worms.Still ping-ponging around, they feel an increasing sense of urgency. People on the list are being murdered. How do they catch this man?
Underlying it all, is the ongoing question of Lennox' mysterious past.
This is a pretty good book, although not as good as Ms. Durrant's other series. The story is pretty convoluted. Sadly, I am not that interested in Harry's identity. Whether he is really his dead twin brother Paul was a little intriguing in the first book, but it was tiresome in this one. I will stick to her other books.
I want to thank NetGalley and Joffe Books for forwarding to me a copy of this book for me to read and review.
February 19, 2021
I was, as always, delighted to be offered this ARC by Joffe publishers as you can be sure of something to get your teeth into with Helens books.
Harry and Jess are back in another excellent crime story. This time a young lad is found murdered and set alight to destroy the evidence. On further investigation it appears he had a “murder board” in his bedroom with a load of photographs of unsolved murders. There’s also a blank which is the “faceless man”.
As the investigation continues there are more murders and Harry and Jess are no closer to finding out who it is.
Eventually they get a break through, and I would never have guessed who it was in a month of Sunday’s. This one unusually had me flummoxed. I have to say, I did sort of admire the assassin in a way, he was clever. Apart from Dean I think all the others were miscreants anyway, so they wouldn’t be missed!
I’m dying to know if we’ll ever discover the truth about Harry, maybe in future books. Can’t wait.
My thanks to Helen and Joffe publishers for the ARC.
Harry and Jess are back in another excellent crime story. This time a young lad is found murdered and set alight to destroy the evidence. On further investigation it appears he had a “murder board” in his bedroom with a load of photographs of unsolved murders. There’s also a blank which is the “faceless man”.
As the investigation continues there are more murders and Harry and Jess are no closer to finding out who it is.
Eventually they get a break through, and I would never have guessed who it was in a month of Sunday’s. This one unusually had me flummoxed. I have to say, I did sort of admire the assassin in a way, he was clever. Apart from Dean I think all the others were miscreants anyway, so they wouldn’t be missed!
I’m dying to know if we’ll ever discover the truth about Harry, maybe in future books. Can’t wait.
My thanks to Helen and Joffe publishers for the ARC.
February 19, 2021
The faceless man by Helen H Durrant. Book 2 of Lennox and Wilde series.
A teenage boy is found murdered in a local park. Stabbed to death and set alight to destroy the evidence.
Detectives Harry Lennox and Jess Wilde soon learn his identity and find his bedroom wall decorated with photographs of the victims of unsolved murders.
There are images of three people who appear to be the next victims. One of them is the faceless man, a blank cut-out with no features.
Jess and Harry must find the killer before the next target dies. And Harry is guarding a secret that could destroy everything he’s built.
I really enjoyed this book. I do like this series and can't wait for the next book. I love Harry and Jess. 5*.
A teenage boy is found murdered in a local park. Stabbed to death and set alight to destroy the evidence.
Detectives Harry Lennox and Jess Wilde soon learn his identity and find his bedroom wall decorated with photographs of the victims of unsolved murders.
There are images of three people who appear to be the next victims. One of them is the faceless man, a blank cut-out with no features.
Jess and Harry must find the killer before the next target dies. And Harry is guarding a secret that could destroy everything he’s built.
I really enjoyed this book. I do like this series and can't wait for the next book. I love Harry and Jess. 5*.
April 10, 2021
Overall I enjoyed this book. The book was engaging and it held my interest from the first page. However, the book still felt under-developed. The best way to describe it is like the outline for a really good story that still needs a bit of filling in. Also, the ending felt abrupt and incomplete. Still, it was a decent read.
August 7, 2021
I really enjoyed this cleverly written book. Number 2 in the Lennox/Wilde series. I often wonder how authors get all these great idea's for books and this one was top notch. The characters are beginning to develop although Wilde can be a bit annoying to Lennox, I quite like that side of her as I would also be nosey lol! Great read, highly recommend.
February 24, 2021
The second book in the series and another superb read from this amazing author. Fast paced plot, engaging characters, nail biting moments , she certainly knows what keeps her readers happy and wanting more.Thanks to the author and Joffe Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
March 2, 2021
This is the second book in what I hope will be many of an excellent new series set in the northern town of Ryebridge near Manchester featuring DI Harry Lennox and DS Jess Wilde. In the first story various things came to light about Harry, his former postings, the death of his father and twin brother Paul, and his dealings with his former mentor Sandy Munroe and ruthless criminal Mungo Salton. Jess is still quietly trying to find out more about her partner, something he is reluctant to share. Harry is still a bit of an enigma but at least he has managed to find a flat share with DC Colin Vance and is no longer living in a campervan!! The detectives are called out to Cheetham Park where the body of a teenage boy has been found in a boat on the lake. He has received a single stab wound to his heart and the killer has made an attempt to burn his body, presumably to hide evidence. There is no id but a call from a worried mother worried soon identifies him as Dean Greenwood. Their neighbours tell of how two men were murdered in Galashiels while they were on holiday and Dean swears he has seen a man he recognizes from there lately. One look in his bedroom reveals a rather strange hobby. What he tells his mother is his college project is actually two boards, one containing details of unsolved murders and another which looks like Dean has identified three possible potential victims of the same killer. The only problem - one does not have a face! Could Dean have been on the track of a killer and tackled them, only to meet his death? As the detectives study the “deaths” board they look for a link between the victims and immediately see that one local girl was also killed in the same way as the two men in Scotland but struggle to make connections between the four local murders and the two in Scotland, apart form the fact they are all unsolved. If it is the same killer, then they are a clever one who evades detection and leaves no traces. However, one potential victim in the three pictures is easily found, this being social media “influencer” Lana Midani who is currently staying in Ryebridge’s Metropole Hotel for an interview and photo shoot. The detectives arrive just that bit too late to find her PA murdered instead. The thwarted killer is furious at receiving inaccurate information and has had to silence a witness. But the question is, where did Dean get his information about possible victims from and having found the man he thought was the killer, what sort of deal was he trying to make with him? And just how can the detectives find a man without a face to prevent more murders?
This is a smashing follow up to book one, very well written with an exciting plot and a thrilling ending with lots of clever twists along the way. We are beginning to get to know the pair of detectives very well, and Lennox’s intriguing past eventually gets revealed a little more. Will we ever know the truth about Harry? I suspect there will be far more to be revealed in future stories and I am eagerly looking forward to their next case. 5*
This is a smashing follow up to book one, very well written with an exciting plot and a thrilling ending with lots of clever twists along the way. We are beginning to get to know the pair of detectives very well, and Lennox’s intriguing past eventually gets revealed a little more. Will we ever know the truth about Harry? I suspect there will be far more to be revealed in future stories and I am eagerly looking forward to their next case. 5*
March 28, 2021
2.5 / 5 Stars
The Faceless Man is one of those books that I actually had to stop reading and double-check the front cover as I really thought I had opened the wrong book and was reading something else at first. I have read many books by this author and have enjoyed them tremendously, but this one was different right from the get-go. And I don't mean the story, as of course that would be different, but the whole tone as well as the whole writing style was...off. I really felt like I was reading a book by a completely different author.
I will admit that I did not read the first book in this series so I did feel at a disadvantage, but at this point I am in no hurry to read it as I wasn't invested enough in this one to do so. While I was intrigued by the mystery presented by Harry and his twin, Paul, and what that might represent, I just didn't connect with him personally and his struggles. Usually when a character is harbouring a big secret, I get invested in what is happening as I love secrets and look for those clues that may give it away. However, his character was a little blah and didn't really grow or progress throughout the book and I thought the focus on this 'big secret' was a little much. It should have been woven throughout the story rather than thrown in your face so much, with characters even from his past showing up to threaten him with the truth being outed as if the reader couldn't figure out there was a big problem.
I love police procedurals and tend to gravitate towards them like bees to honey. Although it was quite easy to figure out who was the culprit, which is often the case for me, I love to follow along and see how the police / detectives / investigators get to the truth as I find it interesting. While the race to find the killer is always fun, there were times when I felt the author was trying too hard to build up a mystery that was thin at best by putting in filler stuff that was, quite frankly, useless. And while I am not against characters who are awful as I find them intriguing, I am against using them just to create angst in a book which doesn't usually work all that well.
The Faceless Man is one of those books I wish I could have liked a bit more than I did. While some of the aspects of the case were intriguing, I thought the actual mystery was quite thin and very easy to figure out. I also thought the characters were quite one-dimensional, with little growth to them. I do recommend you try one of the books in another series (Calladine & Bayliss is a great one) by this author however, as I did enjoy them very much and it would be a great place to start if you are not familiar with her work.
The Faceless Man is one of those books that I actually had to stop reading and double-check the front cover as I really thought I had opened the wrong book and was reading something else at first. I have read many books by this author and have enjoyed them tremendously, but this one was different right from the get-go. And I don't mean the story, as of course that would be different, but the whole tone as well as the whole writing style was...off. I really felt like I was reading a book by a completely different author.
I will admit that I did not read the first book in this series so I did feel at a disadvantage, but at this point I am in no hurry to read it as I wasn't invested enough in this one to do so. While I was intrigued by the mystery presented by Harry and his twin, Paul, and what that might represent, I just didn't connect with him personally and his struggles. Usually when a character is harbouring a big secret, I get invested in what is happening as I love secrets and look for those clues that may give it away. However, his character was a little blah and didn't really grow or progress throughout the book and I thought the focus on this 'big secret' was a little much. It should have been woven throughout the story rather than thrown in your face so much, with characters even from his past showing up to threaten him with the truth being outed as if the reader couldn't figure out there was a big problem.
I love police procedurals and tend to gravitate towards them like bees to honey. Although it was quite easy to figure out who was the culprit, which is often the case for me, I love to follow along and see how the police / detectives / investigators get to the truth as I find it interesting. While the race to find the killer is always fun, there were times when I felt the author was trying too hard to build up a mystery that was thin at best by putting in filler stuff that was, quite frankly, useless. And while I am not against characters who are awful as I find them intriguing, I am against using them just to create angst in a book which doesn't usually work all that well.
The Faceless Man is one of those books I wish I could have liked a bit more than I did. While some of the aspects of the case were intriguing, I thought the actual mystery was quite thin and very easy to figure out. I also thought the characters were quite one-dimensional, with little growth to them. I do recommend you try one of the books in another series (Calladine & Bayliss is a great one) by this author however, as I did enjoy them very much and it would be a great place to start if you are not familiar with her work.
March 8, 2021
The Faceless Man by Helen Durrant is the second book in the new Lennox and Wilde series. These books work fine, as do most of Helen's books, as a standalone. As always with a series you just miss knowing some of Harry Lennox's back story. I always feel I need to know everything to gain a greater in depth knowledge to a great series, but this is a personal thing.
When teenager Dean discovers a murder list and makes the decision to blackmail the murderer you know this is not his best decision and it doesn't bode well for Dean.
Harry and Jess begin their investigation into Deans death they find that a laptop and mobile phone are both missing. They also realise that he has a wall of victims and possible killers, all neatly in place for them, without the missing laptop and phone they are up against it to find a killer known as the faceless man. A person who is very aware of not leaving evidence behind to identify them. The team are really feeling the pressure but can they root him out before he strikes again?
I always look forward to a new book from Helen and I am really enjoying this new series. The characters are coming along nicely with Harry being an intriguing character with all sorts of rumours flying around about him, hopefully we shall learn more about him in future instalments.
A gritty,action packed and definitely addictive book that has the shocks, twists and drama that we have come to expect when reading a Helen Durrant book! Exceptional author and an exceptional book too! Thanks to Joffe Books and NetGalley for the copy of the book.
When teenager Dean discovers a murder list and makes the decision to blackmail the murderer you know this is not his best decision and it doesn't bode well for Dean.
Harry and Jess begin their investigation into Deans death they find that a laptop and mobile phone are both missing. They also realise that he has a wall of victims and possible killers, all neatly in place for them, without the missing laptop and phone they are up against it to find a killer known as the faceless man. A person who is very aware of not leaving evidence behind to identify them. The team are really feeling the pressure but can they root him out before he strikes again?
I always look forward to a new book from Helen and I am really enjoying this new series. The characters are coming along nicely with Harry being an intriguing character with all sorts of rumours flying around about him, hopefully we shall learn more about him in future instalments.
A gritty,action packed and definitely addictive book that has the shocks, twists and drama that we have come to expect when reading a Helen Durrant book! Exceptional author and an exceptional book too! Thanks to Joffe Books and NetGalley for the copy of the book.
February 27, 2021
The Faceless man is book 2 in the Lennox and Wilde detective series however it works well as a stand-alone novella. I have yet to read book one and I do feel it would give a better insight into the characters if I had, the plot and relationships were easy to follow and pick up on.
Harry Lennox is a seemingly quiet and simple character however there is an air of mystery surrounding him and his identity. I cannot wait to read further into the series in order to discover exactly what is going on. Harry is a great detective and such a lovely man. Jess Wilde took some getting used to. For the first half of the book I felt she was pushy and intrusive (I may have felt differently if I’d read the first book). About half way through though I began to realise how loyal she was to Harry and much she did actually care and to be honest – he needs someone a little more pushy with him to balance out his characteristics.
The plot was pacey and I think it could have been written as a full novel because there was certainly enough going on. Each chapter brought a new clue, reveal or dilemma and there was always something to keep me on my toes. It was such a tricky one to figure out and I had no idea.
A great crime novella with interesting protagonists and for me, a new series to follow.
Harry Lennox is a seemingly quiet and simple character however there is an air of mystery surrounding him and his identity. I cannot wait to read further into the series in order to discover exactly what is going on. Harry is a great detective and such a lovely man. Jess Wilde took some getting used to. For the first half of the book I felt she was pushy and intrusive (I may have felt differently if I’d read the first book). About half way through though I began to realise how loyal she was to Harry and much she did actually care and to be honest – he needs someone a little more pushy with him to balance out his characteristics.
The plot was pacey and I think it could have been written as a full novel because there was certainly enough going on. Each chapter brought a new clue, reveal or dilemma and there was always something to keep me on my toes. It was such a tricky one to figure out and I had no idea.
A great crime novella with interesting protagonists and for me, a new series to follow.
March 22, 2021
I used to love this author. Everything they wrote I read in one (maybe two) sittings and adored. But then I realized there was nothing that separated one book from the next. I get it, formula books work for a reason, but when it makes it so easy to decipher who the bad guys are? That's when it becomes a problem. Sadly, that is how it was with this book. Early on, I figured out who was behind things (even though the author tried to throw in red herrings along the way), so nothing that happened after that was a surprise to me.
Another problem I had is the fact that even though this is only book number two, I don't feel like the characters had any character development. They still appear very one dimensional, and even though Harry may or may not be harboring a big secret, it was brought up so often that it became tedious. At this point I don't care if its true or it isn't, I just hope it gets wrapped up soon so I don't have to read about it anymore.
While I do believe this book will appeal to those who enjoy police procedural novels, and prior fans of this author, I think I will take a break from this author and come back to them again at a later date.
DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.
Another problem I had is the fact that even though this is only book number two, I don't feel like the characters had any character development. They still appear very one dimensional, and even though Harry may or may not be harboring a big secret, it was brought up so often that it became tedious. At this point I don't care if its true or it isn't, I just hope it gets wrapped up soon so I don't have to read about it anymore.
While I do believe this book will appeal to those who enjoy police procedural novels, and prior fans of this author, I think I will take a break from this author and come back to them again at a later date.
DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.
February 25, 2022
The cut out.
Dean knew something, something really big.
It had started when family & friends took up Dean's suggestion of a holiday in Galashiels. But this was part of Dean's plan to find the man, the assassin, who killed swiftly in silence. The victims seemed random, but the killer just followed orders. A phone call, a message on a buying selling website, a special code and he got the name of his next victim. Harry & Jess are called to the scene of Dean's murder, he was still fresh and his face identifiable. Not what his killer intended - after stabbing him through the heart, dumped in a rowboat, petrol had been poured over him ans a thrown lit match was supposed to destroy all evidence - a heavy downpour put pay to that.
They are able to identify the body as Dean. Going to his home and confirming
his identity, a routine search of his room changes everything. Dean has his own murder wall, photos of people murdered, clippings related to them, names and photos of others - future victims.
Dean knew something, something really big.
It had started when family & friends took up Dean's suggestion of a holiday in Galashiels. But this was part of Dean's plan to find the man, the assassin, who killed swiftly in silence. The victims seemed random, but the killer just followed orders. A phone call, a message on a buying selling website, a special code and he got the name of his next victim. Harry & Jess are called to the scene of Dean's murder, he was still fresh and his face identifiable. Not what his killer intended - after stabbing him through the heart, dumped in a rowboat, petrol had been poured over him ans a thrown lit match was supposed to destroy all evidence - a heavy downpour put pay to that.
They are able to identify the body as Dean. Going to his home and confirming
his identity, a routine search of his room changes everything. Dean has his own murder wall, photos of people murdered, clippings related to them, names and photos of others - future victims.
Read
April 4, 2022Gave up on this part way through.
Assassin on the loose. Teenagers work out his identity. Th boy tries tomblackmail,h8m and is murdered for his trouble. So then his friend also tries to blackmail him thinking she’s smarter. She knows that someone is going to be murdered she knows who and she knows when. So what does she do? Instead of reporting to the police she places hidden cameras in the man’s flat and then returns after he’s killed. Total moral bankruptcy.
She is threatened by the killer but he doesn’t killer so she goes to the police. They decide to put their her enough father in a safe house then they send to offices around to the house to pick clothing for them. Killer of course is watching the house so follows the police.
That’s when I gave up on the books. Actions of the characters were so stupid and obvious. That wasn’t the only example another character whose life is in danger and who is in a safe house also refuses to tell them information that would keep us safe. It seems clumsy devices and I couldn’t stomach any more so I gave up
Assassin on the loose. Teenagers work out his identity. Th boy tries tomblackmail,h8m and is murdered for his trouble. So then his friend also tries to blackmail him thinking she’s smarter. She knows that someone is going to be murdered she knows who and she knows when. So what does she do? Instead of reporting to the police she places hidden cameras in the man’s flat and then returns after he’s killed. Total moral bankruptcy.
She is threatened by the killer but he doesn’t killer so she goes to the police. They decide to put their her enough father in a safe house then they send to offices around to the house to pick clothing for them. Killer of course is watching the house so follows the police.
That’s when I gave up on the books. Actions of the characters were so stupid and obvious. That wasn’t the only example another character whose life is in danger and who is in a safe house also refuses to tell them information that would keep us safe. It seems clumsy devices and I couldn’t stomach any more so I gave up
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