Seven deadly things

Henry & Sparrow #3

by A.D. Fox

A bluecoats reunion break at a Buntin’s holiday camp is just what DI Kate Sparrow needs after a stressful few months of policing. She’s even dragged her IT nerd of a brother out into the daylight to drive them both there on L plates.

But on arrival, Kate is met with the shock news that an old friend took his life in the pool complex just days beforehand. It’s a bit of a dampener for Kate and her five remaining buddies.

Then another body is discovered. A woman choked in lard…

And if Kate didn’t have enough to deal with, she might also be getting hallucinations. Unless that guy she saw in the bar while doing drunken karaoke was actually her dowsing partner in crime-solving, Lucas Henry.

But it couldn’t be…. unless he’s stalking her. And with a shared dark past neither are keen to revisit, why on earth would he?



The third instalment in the darkly twisted and gratifyingly quirky Henry & Sparrow crime thriller series.

268 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 13, 2021

About the author

Making her crime fiction debut in the pandemical pandaemonium of 2021, AD FOX has been published for fifteen years and won a plethora of awards as children’s author Ali Sparkes.

‘I have always loved writing for children, but for many years I harboured the dark secret of really wanting to murder people,’ confesses Ali. ‘Happily, only in print. Well, as far as the authorities know…’

Having despatched quite a few characters in her bestselling Shapeshifter Series, Ali had always nursed the urge to take it up a gear for her readers beyond school age - and the cancellation of scores of festival and school event bookings in 2020 provided that silver lining. Time.

‘It’s been hideous for so many people,’ she says, ‘and I wouldn’t wish a global pandemic on anyone. Obviously. But the extra time has finally allowed me to scratch that crimey itch. Henry & Sparrow is the result. I can only hope both the police and the dowsing community will one day forgive me…’

Before becoming an author Ali worked as a reporter in local newspapers and later as a BBC broadcast journalist and a comedy writer for BBC Radio 4. Prior to all of this she was a bit of a luvvie and a singer in bands - and a Pontin's Bluecoat for one memorable summer season. Her experiences in all these fields have provided a rich background tapestry for the Henry & Sparrow series.

She lives in Hampshire, England, with her husband, occasional boomeranging offspring and a highly porous labradoodle who loves too much. She likes to go running. Not quite so often in the woods since writing The Dying Dolls.

Reviews

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seven Deadly Things is book 3 in the Henry and Sparrow series by AD Fox. Kate Sparrow and her friend Talia worked at Buntin’s Holiday Village 7 years ago and their workmates from that time have decided to have a reunion there. They call themselves the Magnificent Seven but that number seems to be dwindling. Meanwhile Lucas is dowsing for water in nearby Norfolk when Sid starts to send him signals that something is afoot. Lucas can’t help himself and he has to investigate. I loved this book as I have the other 2 books in this series. When I started them, I thought having a dowser (or diviner as I think of them in Australia) in the story would be far-fetched, but they have been terrific. I look forward to the next one in the series.

[Mrs Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could not put it down...

Reading A D Fox's books has become addictive.
The relationship between Lucas and Kate is something I want to read more about.
The storyline in this book was perfect, I once a kids rep who was the kind of teen who wanted to go to bed rather than get steaming drunk rung true for me. If only more people were like Kate Sparrow; kind hearted.
If you want a fantastic series of books this will not disappoint, just finished the third and now onto the forth, I need to know more. Sorry sleep you will not be my friend tonight.

[Mary Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series and this, the 3rd one, is the best so far. I enjoyed the concept of the reunion which sees Kate turning up to the holiday camp to meet up with her old mates, with her brother in tow.

Of course fate intervenes and Lucas finds himself arriving at the holiday camp, just in time for some dead bodies of Kate's old team to start turning up.

This is such a quick and easy read. I couldn't put it down. I highly recommend this series and look forward to the next one.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG!!!! I literally couldn't put this down! And then, when you think it's all over..... BOOM!!!! She hits you with a finish like that!!! Don't keep me waiting long for the next installment, please!!

[Mrs E A Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable

I thought time was running out for Henry Lucus. I did enjoy reading it, and was hoping it was going to be an happy ending, however there’s more despair.

[Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting enough plot. Written well enough. Nothing setting the world on fire but a nice story to pass a few hours.