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Calladine & Bayliss #11
Dead Sorry
Looking for a brilliant best-selling crime mystery with great detectives?
THE PAST COMES BACK TO HAUNT THEM
Twenty-five years ago a schoolgirl was attacked by three bullies in her home where she lived with her grandmother.
Now, the mother of one of those bullies is found murdered on the Hobfield housing estate. Written on the wall in the victim’s blood is the word, “sorry.”
There is a link to the discovery of bones at an old house up in the hills — the home of the teenage girl who was attacked.
Detective Tom Calladine and his partner DS Ruth Bayliss have more than this puzzling case on their hands. Arch-villain Lazarov is threatening Calladine’s granddaughter and a valuable hoard of Celtic gold is coming to a local museum.
The pressure is on, and this time Calladine is cracking . . .
Discover an absolutely unputdownable crime thriller from a best-selling author.
If you like Angela Marsons, Rachel Abbott, Mel Sherratt, Ruth Rendell, or Mark Billingham you will enjoy this exciting new crime fiction writer.
DEAD SORRY is book eleven of a new series of detective thrillers featuring DS Ruth Bayliss and DI Tom Calladine.
What readers are saying about the series
“I read it in one sitting.” Aileen
“This books has lots of twists and turns throughout and with a cracking ending to this brilliant book.” Nessa
“Really enjoyed this book.” Nerys
“Kept me guessing till the end.” Anna Maria
“I finished it in twenty-four hours and enjoyed every page.” Joan
THE DETECTIVES
Tom Calladine is a detective inspector who is devoted to his job. His personal life, however, is not so successful. Having been married and divorced before the age of twenty-one has set a pattern that he finds difficult to escape.
Ruth Bayliss is in her mid-thirties, plain-speaking but loyal. She is balancing her professional life with looking after a small child.
THE SETTING
The fictional village of Leesdon is on the outskirts of an industrial northern English city. There is little work and a lot of crime. The bane of Calladine’s life is the Hobfield housing estate, breeding ground to all that is wrong with the area that he calls home.
THE PAST COMES BACK TO HAUNT THEM
Twenty-five years ago a schoolgirl was attacked by three bullies in her home where she lived with her grandmother.
Now, the mother of one of those bullies is found murdered on the Hobfield housing estate. Written on the wall in the victim’s blood is the word, “sorry.”
There is a link to the discovery of bones at an old house up in the hills — the home of the teenage girl who was attacked.
Detective Tom Calladine and his partner DS Ruth Bayliss have more than this puzzling case on their hands. Arch-villain Lazarov is threatening Calladine’s granddaughter and a valuable hoard of Celtic gold is coming to a local museum.
The pressure is on, and this time Calladine is cracking . . .
Discover an absolutely unputdownable crime thriller from a best-selling author.
If you like Angela Marsons, Rachel Abbott, Mel Sherratt, Ruth Rendell, or Mark Billingham you will enjoy this exciting new crime fiction writer.
DEAD SORRY is book eleven of a new series of detective thrillers featuring DS Ruth Bayliss and DI Tom Calladine.
What readers are saying about the series
“I read it in one sitting.” Aileen
“This books has lots of twists and turns throughout and with a cracking ending to this brilliant book.” Nessa
“Really enjoyed this book.” Nerys
“Kept me guessing till the end.” Anna Maria
“I finished it in twenty-four hours and enjoyed every page.” Joan
THE DETECTIVES
Tom Calladine is a detective inspector who is devoted to his job. His personal life, however, is not so successful. Having been married and divorced before the age of twenty-one has set a pattern that he finds difficult to escape.
Ruth Bayliss is in her mid-thirties, plain-speaking but loyal. She is balancing her professional life with looking after a small child.
THE SETTING
The fictional village of Leesdon is on the outskirts of an industrial northern English city. There is little work and a lot of crime. The bane of Calladine’s life is the Hobfield housing estate, breeding ground to all that is wrong with the area that he calls home.
197 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 17, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
June 19, 2021
EXCERPT: They'd had a quiet few weeks but Calladine, ever the realist, had known it wouldn't last. Now it looked as if the days of keeping office hours and getting home in time for tea were finally over.
The sight that greeted him as he stood in the doorway of the flat was truly awful. The woman lay on the lino, limbs splayed at unnatural angles. It didn't take much medical knowledge to know that they were broken. Her face was fast disappearing under the close attention of dozens of maggots, and brain tissue gaped from a hole in her skull.
ABOUT 'DEAD SORRY': Twenty-five years ago a schoolgirl was attacked by three bullies in her home where she lived with her grandmother.
Now, the mother of one of those bullies is found murdered on the Hobfield housing estate. Written on the wall in the victim’s blood is the word, “sorry.”
There is a link to the discovery of bones at an old house up in the hills — the home of the teenage girl who was attacked.
Detective Tom Calladine and his partner DS Ruth Bayliss have more than this puzzling case on their hands. Arch-villain Lazarov is threatening Calladine’s granddaughter and a valuable hoard of Celtic gold is coming to a local museum.
The pressure is on, and this time Calladine is cracking . . .
THE DETECTIVES
Tom Calladine is a detective inspector who is devoted to his job. His personal life, however, is not so successful. Having been married and divorced before the age of twenty-one has set a pattern that he finds difficult to escape.
Ruth Bayliss is in her mid-thirties, plain-speaking but loyal. She is balancing her professional life with looking after a small child.
THE SETTING The fictional village of Leesdon is on the outskirts of an industrial northern English city. There is little work and a lot of crime. The bane of Calladine’s life is the Hobfield housing estate, breeding ground to all that is wrong with the area that he calls home.
MY THOUGHTS: Helen Durrant took me for a ride with Dead Sorry. Early in the book I was accusing Calladine and Bayliss of missing things that were right in front of them. They didn't, and my suspicions were mostly wrong.
Dead Sorry cracks along at a good pace. It is a quick, easy read, and probably able to be read as a stand-alone, although it is #11 in the series.
Bullying is at the centre of one of the two threads in Dead Sorry, drug dealing at the other. There are plenty of twists and turns in the plot. One in particular had me sitting up and taking notice as it knocked a couple of my theories right out of the ring.
I love that the author includes a quick bio of her main characters at the beginning. It's a lovely reminder to those of us who have read previous books, and a good introduction for those of whom this is their first book. A new character is introduced in Dead Sorry, and Tom has a bit of a health scare.
Dead Sorry is a good read that kept me guessing, but one that I probably won't give another thought to until #12 is published.
⭐⭐⭐.8
#DEADSORRY #NetGalley
I: @hhdurrant_author @joffebooks
T: @JoffeBooks
#contemporaryfiction #crime #detectivefiction #murdermystery #mystery #policeprocedural
THE AUTHOR: Helen H. Durrant is a British author who sets her novels in the area she has lived for many years, the towns and villages that sit in the shelter of the Pennine hills. The area offers an interesting mix of the industrial and the countryside and makes for a great setting for a crime novel.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Joffe Books via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Dead Sorry 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 sight that greeted him as he stood in the doorway of the flat was truly awful. The woman lay on the lino, limbs splayed at unnatural angles. It didn't take much medical knowledge to know that they were broken. Her face was fast disappearing under the close attention of dozens of maggots, and brain tissue gaped from a hole in her skull.
ABOUT 'DEAD SORRY': Twenty-five years ago a schoolgirl was attacked by three bullies in her home where she lived with her grandmother.
Now, the mother of one of those bullies is found murdered on the Hobfield housing estate. Written on the wall in the victim’s blood is the word, “sorry.”
There is a link to the discovery of bones at an old house up in the hills — the home of the teenage girl who was attacked.
Detective Tom Calladine and his partner DS Ruth Bayliss have more than this puzzling case on their hands. Arch-villain Lazarov is threatening Calladine’s granddaughter and a valuable hoard of Celtic gold is coming to a local museum.
The pressure is on, and this time Calladine is cracking . . .
THE DETECTIVES
Tom Calladine is a detective inspector who is devoted to his job. His personal life, however, is not so successful. Having been married and divorced before the age of twenty-one has set a pattern that he finds difficult to escape.
Ruth Bayliss is in her mid-thirties, plain-speaking but loyal. She is balancing her professional life with looking after a small child.
THE SETTING The fictional village of Leesdon is on the outskirts of an industrial northern English city. There is little work and a lot of crime. The bane of Calladine’s life is the Hobfield housing estate, breeding ground to all that is wrong with the area that he calls home.
MY THOUGHTS: Helen Durrant took me for a ride with Dead Sorry. Early in the book I was accusing Calladine and Bayliss of missing things that were right in front of them. They didn't, and my suspicions were mostly wrong.
Dead Sorry cracks along at a good pace. It is a quick, easy read, and probably able to be read as a stand-alone, although it is #11 in the series.
Bullying is at the centre of one of the two threads in Dead Sorry, drug dealing at the other. There are plenty of twists and turns in the plot. One in particular had me sitting up and taking notice as it knocked a couple of my theories right out of the ring.
I love that the author includes a quick bio of her main characters at the beginning. It's a lovely reminder to those of us who have read previous books, and a good introduction for those of whom this is their first book. A new character is introduced in Dead Sorry, and Tom has a bit of a health scare.
Dead Sorry is a good read that kept me guessing, but one that I probably won't give another thought to until #12 is published.
⭐⭐⭐.8
#DEADSORRY #NetGalley
I: @hhdurrant_author @joffebooks
T: @JoffeBooks
#contemporaryfiction #crime #detectivefiction #murdermystery #mystery #policeprocedural
THE AUTHOR: Helen H. Durrant is a British author who sets her novels in the area she has lived for many years, the towns and villages that sit in the shelter of the Pennine hills. The area offers an interesting mix of the industrial and the countryside and makes for a great setting for a crime novel.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Joffe Books via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Dead Sorry 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/...
June 17, 2021
Dead Sorry is the eleventh instalment in the Detective Inspector Tom Calladine and Detective Sergeant Ruth Bayliss Mystery series set in the fictional village of Leesdon, Greater Manchester. It's a reminder to never judge a book by its cover and never underestimate those of us who are quiet or confuse it with tolerance. The prologue opens 25 years ago with schoolgirl Millie bringing 3 of her relentless bullies home after class at the behest of her grandmother who was hoping it would help her to fit in a little more among her peers. The group of girls are dominated by ringleader and all-around bad apple Jade O'Brien, and followers Kaz and Sarah, who proceeds to pull Millie's hair, grab her by the throat and ventures into her grandfather's workshop looking for tools to steal to sell on in exchange for cash to purchase drink or drugs. It's clear to see that the Millie, the bright, hardworking, polite student does not belong among her mouthy, arrogant peers on the rough Hobfield Estate which has a terrible reputation and is teeming with criminals making her a soft target. In the toolshed, they gather up those easiest to sell and most lucrative but not without threatening Millie with a Stanley knife and slashing her cheek with it until it's pouring with blood. Jade attempts to cut her again but this time Millie has had enough.
She never really was the meek teen the bullies thought she was and it was about time she showed them. A short time later, Millie's grandmother returns home interrupting her hammer attack over the 3 menaces. They vow to keep it a secret and let the girls tell their stories. Back in the present day, Carradine and Bayliss are called to investigate when the deceased body of Jade's mother, Becca O'Brien, is discovered in a flat in Gorse House on the estate. She has been brutally murdered and the word Sorry scrawled in blood across the wall. Bones are found at the house where the 3 bullies had congregated with Millie all those years earlier. There appears to be a connection between Becca's killing and some bones located at Gorse House from a quarter of a century ago. Can Carradine and Bayliss figure it out? This is a riveting and thoroughly compulsive addition to an addictive police procedural series providing you with both a modern mystery and a historical one complete with drama, thrills, danger, twists and red herrings aplenty to get the mind whirring. There's never a dull moment in Durrant's books, but I also feel like this is up there with her most engrossing, exciting and entertaining books in recent years. A unique plot and vivid characters bring the story to life. Highly recommended.
She never really was the meek teen the bullies thought she was and it was about time she showed them. A short time later, Millie's grandmother returns home interrupting her hammer attack over the 3 menaces. They vow to keep it a secret and let the girls tell their stories. Back in the present day, Carradine and Bayliss are called to investigate when the deceased body of Jade's mother, Becca O'Brien, is discovered in a flat in Gorse House on the estate. She has been brutally murdered and the word Sorry scrawled in blood across the wall. Bones are found at the house where the 3 bullies had congregated with Millie all those years earlier. There appears to be a connection between Becca's killing and some bones located at Gorse House from a quarter of a century ago. Can Carradine and Bayliss figure it out? This is a riveting and thoroughly compulsive addition to an addictive police procedural series providing you with both a modern mystery and a historical one complete with drama, thrills, danger, twists and red herrings aplenty to get the mind whirring. There's never a dull moment in Durrant's books, but I also feel like this is up there with her most engrossing, exciting and entertaining books in recent years. A unique plot and vivid characters bring the story to life. Highly recommended.
June 30, 2021
Check out all of my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
DEAD SORRY (Calladine & Bayliss Mystery Book #11) by Helen H. Durrant is a smartly plotted mystery/British police procedural in an ongoing series that I cannot believe I have not read before now. This book can be read as a standalone because the author fills the reader in on the characters’ backstories that are relevant to interactions in previous books.
DI Tom Calladine and DS Ruth Bayliss are called to a brutal murder scene at the crime ridden Hobfield housing estate. When the victim is identified, Ruth realizes it has similarities and family ties to an old case from her school days. As they begin the investigation, Calladine receives a call from an old nemesis who threatens the lives of his daughter and new granddaughter if he interferes in his return to the area.
Calladine and Bayliss need to find out which suspects are tied to which case as more people end up dead or are the two cases somehow tied together?
The author does a great job of mixing in red herrings and twists that continued to surprise me. When I was two thirds of the way through the book, I thought I had it all figured out. NO, I did not. The two main detectives and their whole team make this an enjoyable character read and the two plot lines are expertly paced with a balanced amount of intrigue and surprises. Also, make sure you read to the very last page. (That is all I can say about that.) Time for me to go back and catch up with Calladine and Bayliss from the very beginning.
I can highly recommend this mystery/British police procedural and author!
DEAD SORRY (Calladine & Bayliss Mystery Book #11) by Helen H. Durrant is a smartly plotted mystery/British police procedural in an ongoing series that I cannot believe I have not read before now. This book can be read as a standalone because the author fills the reader in on the characters’ backstories that are relevant to interactions in previous books.
DI Tom Calladine and DS Ruth Bayliss are called to a brutal murder scene at the crime ridden Hobfield housing estate. When the victim is identified, Ruth realizes it has similarities and family ties to an old case from her school days. As they begin the investigation, Calladine receives a call from an old nemesis who threatens the lives of his daughter and new granddaughter if he interferes in his return to the area.
Calladine and Bayliss need to find out which suspects are tied to which case as more people end up dead or are the two cases somehow tied together?
The author does a great job of mixing in red herrings and twists that continued to surprise me. When I was two thirds of the way through the book, I thought I had it all figured out. NO, I did not. The two main detectives and their whole team make this an enjoyable character read and the two plot lines are expertly paced with a balanced amount of intrigue and surprises. Also, make sure you read to the very last page. (That is all I can say about that.) Time for me to go back and catch up with Calladine and Bayliss from the very beginning.
I can highly recommend this mystery/British police procedural and author!
June 26, 2021
DEAD SORRY by author Helen H. Durrant is book 11 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.
The Detectives
Detective inspector Tom Calladine is a workaholic, totally devoted to his job. He is a hands-on copper that does investigations and solves crimes. But his personal life has not been so rewarding, being married and divorced before he was twenty-one.
Ruth Bayliss is in her mid-thirties, plain-speaking but loyal. She is balancing her professional life with looking after a small child.
The setting is the fictional village of Leesdon on the outskirts of an industrial northern English city. There is little work and a lot of crime. The curse of Calladine’s life is the Hobfield housing estate, breeding ground to all that is wrong with the area that he calls home.
THE CALLADINE & BAYLISS MYSTERY SERIES
Book 1: DEAD WRONG
Book 2: DEAD SILENT
Book 3: DEAD LIST
Book 4: DEAD LOST
Book 5: DEAD & BURIED
Book 6: DEAD NASTY
Book 7: DEAD JEALOUS
Book 8: DEAD BAD
Book 9: DEAD GUILTY
Book 10: DEAD WICKED
BOOK 11: DEAD SORRY
DI Tom Calladine and DS Ruth Bayliss are called to a crime scene where twenty-five years ago a schoolgirl was attacked by three bullies in her home where she lived with her grandmother. Now, the mother of one of those bullies is found brutally murdered on the Hobfield housing estate. Written on the wall in the victim’s blood is the word, “sorry.”
Bones are found at an old house, with links to the murdered woman.
Detective Tom Calladine and his partner DS Ruth Bayliss have their hands full with this case. On top of all this, a major drug dealer has threatened not only Calladine, but his daughter and grandson.
The pressure is on for Calladine and his team.
This is a great series to follow, and in this novel the focus is on bullying and drug dealing. Lots of action, and great relatable detectives. I will continue to follow this series. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to the author, Joffe Books and 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.
The Detectives
Detective inspector Tom Calladine is a workaholic, totally devoted to his job. He is a hands-on copper that does investigations and solves crimes. But his personal life has not been so rewarding, being married and divorced before he was twenty-one.
Ruth Bayliss is in her mid-thirties, plain-speaking but loyal. She is balancing her professional life with looking after a small child.
The setting is the fictional village of Leesdon on the outskirts of an industrial northern English city. There is little work and a lot of crime. The curse of Calladine’s life is the Hobfield housing estate, breeding ground to all that is wrong with the area that he calls home.
THE CALLADINE & BAYLISS MYSTERY SERIES
Book 1: DEAD WRONG
Book 2: DEAD SILENT
Book 3: DEAD LIST
Book 4: DEAD LOST
Book 5: DEAD & BURIED
Book 6: DEAD NASTY
Book 7: DEAD JEALOUS
Book 8: DEAD BAD
Book 9: DEAD GUILTY
Book 10: DEAD WICKED
BOOK 11: DEAD SORRY
DI Tom Calladine and DS Ruth Bayliss are called to a crime scene where twenty-five years ago a schoolgirl was attacked by three bullies in her home where she lived with her grandmother. Now, the mother of one of those bullies is found brutally murdered on the Hobfield housing estate. Written on the wall in the victim’s blood is the word, “sorry.”
Bones are found at an old house, with links to the murdered woman.
Detective Tom Calladine and his partner DS Ruth Bayliss have their hands full with this case. On top of all this, a major drug dealer has threatened not only Calladine, but his daughter and grandson.
The pressure is on for Calladine and his team.
This is a great series to follow, and in this novel the focus is on bullying and drug dealing. Lots of action, and great relatable detectives. I will continue to follow this series. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to the author, Joffe Books and Netgalley for my digital copy.
June 4, 2021
This is the eleventh book in the Calladine and Bayliss series by author Helen H. Durrant.
The thing I really like about author Helen H. Durrant is that she does write some very good crime series. I enjoy her DI Greco, DCI Rachel King as well as Calladine and Bayliss. Very entertaining reads that are consistently good.
This series features Detective Inspector Tom Calladine and DS Ruth Bayliss and set in the village of Leesdon in northern England. Tom loves his job and it gives him the one thing he can rely on following an unsuccessful marriage. Ruth Bayliss is in her mid-thirties, has a small child and tells it the way it is. Now trying to balance her professional and personal life she is a loyal colleague to Tom Calladine.
A schoolgirl was attacked by three bullies in her home where she lived with her grandmother. Twenty five years later one of the bullies mothers is discovered murdered on the Hobfield housing estate. Written on the wall in the victim’s blood is the word, “sorry.” There is a link to the discovery of bones at an old house up in the hills, the home of the teenage girl who was attacked.
Detective Tom Calladine and his partner DS Ruth Bayliss must try and uncover the truth before more blood is spilt.
As always in this series there is an excellent mix of the crimes and personal back stories that help make these books so successful. Very good characters and enjoyable plots.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Joffe books for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
The thing I really like about author Helen H. Durrant is that she does write some very good crime series. I enjoy her DI Greco, DCI Rachel King as well as Calladine and Bayliss. Very entertaining reads that are consistently good.
This series features Detective Inspector Tom Calladine and DS Ruth Bayliss and set in the village of Leesdon in northern England. Tom loves his job and it gives him the one thing he can rely on following an unsuccessful marriage. Ruth Bayliss is in her mid-thirties, has a small child and tells it the way it is. Now trying to balance her professional and personal life she is a loyal colleague to Tom Calladine.
A schoolgirl was attacked by three bullies in her home where she lived with her grandmother. Twenty five years later one of the bullies mothers is discovered murdered on the Hobfield housing estate. Written on the wall in the victim’s blood is the word, “sorry.” There is a link to the discovery of bones at an old house up in the hills, the home of the teenage girl who was attacked.
Detective Tom Calladine and his partner DS Ruth Bayliss must try and uncover the truth before more blood is spilt.
As always in this series there is an excellent mix of the crimes and personal back stories that help make these books so successful. Very good characters and enjoyable plots.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Joffe books for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
June 17, 2021
When it rains, it pours. Detectives Calladine and Bayliss find themselves pulled in different
directions.
A woman is found murdered in a housing estate. No clues, no known motive. Written on the wall is 'sorry'.
Bones are found at an old house ... with links to the murdered woman.
A criminal is back to take down Calladine. This known major drug dealer has threatened not only Calladine, but his daughter and grandson as well. Calladine reacts as he struggles to protect his family. But then the man is found stuffed in an icebox with a bullet in his forehead. Who wanted him dead ..more than Calladine?
There's a new woman in Tom's life .. but is she who she says she is?
The pressure is on, and this time Calladine is cracking . . .
Suspense and non-stop action start on the very first page and doesn't let up until the unexpected conclusion. Although 11th in the series, this is easily read as a stand alone. Each addition to the series is better than the last, and I highly recommend starting at t he beginning to find all those nuggets that make this such a terrific series. The characters, as always, are solidly drawn.
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 my own.
June 3, 2021
Calladine and Bayliss #11
twenty five years ago, a schoolgirl was attacked by three bullies in her home where she lived with her grandmother, Now, the murder of one of those bullies has been found murdered on the Hobfield housing estate. There is a link to the discovery of bones at an old house up in the hills - the home of the teenage girl who was attacked.
Detective Tom Calladine and his partner DS Ruth Bayliss have been called in to investigate the murder of a woman who was found on the Hobfield estate. Lazarov has a personal vendetta against Calladine. He's also back drug dealing. There'splenty going on for Calladine and Bayliss. The pace is steady with some really great characters. I really like this really gritty police procedural series.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #JoffeBooks and the author #HelenHDurrant for my ARC of #DeadSorry in exchange for an honest review
twenty five years ago, a schoolgirl was attacked by three bullies in her home where she lived with her grandmother, Now, the murder of one of those bullies has been found murdered on the Hobfield housing estate. There is a link to the discovery of bones at an old house up in the hills - the home of the teenage girl who was attacked.
Detective Tom Calladine and his partner DS Ruth Bayliss have been called in to investigate the murder of a woman who was found on the Hobfield estate. Lazarov has a personal vendetta against Calladine. He's also back drug dealing. There'splenty going on for Calladine and Bayliss. The pace is steady with some really great characters. I really like this really gritty police procedural series.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #JoffeBooks and the author #HelenHDurrant for my ARC of #DeadSorry in exchange for an honest review
June 30, 2021
What a fantastic and exciting instalment in a series set in the fictional town of Leesdon, Greater Manchester, featuring DS Ruth Bayliss and DI Tom Calladine! Written by best-selling author Helen H. Durrant, this was a fast-paced crime thriller that had me hooked, even before I had reached the second page.
Helen H. Durrant has drawn some marvellous characters in this novel. I love DI Tom Calladine as he is portrayed to have immense strength of the character. He loves his job and gives his all, but his personal life is not running as smoothly. In this story, an arch-villain, Lazarov, from a previous case threatens Calladine, who is now a grandad, and his family. I also like the ordinariness of the characters. Calladine and Bayliss are friends as well as colleagues and their interactions are pleasing to read about.
Dead Sorry was complex and well-plotted with enough twists in the tale to keep me guessing. Although challenging, there was never any point that I was confused or lost. The easy and highly readable writing style of Helen H. Durrant meant there was no putting this one down to go and do something else! Towards the end, the threads of the plot merged, creating an exciting, horrifying conclusion. This was an incredibly riveting read with an addictive plot and a believable, if flawed, cast. This is a must-read, very highly recommended and I absolutely loved it. It would be great for any lover of police procedural novels and it's a five-star read!
Thanks to NetGalley, Joffe books and the author, Helen H. Durrant for the complimentary advanced copy. This is my honest and totally voluntary review.
Helen H. Durrant has drawn some marvellous characters in this novel. I love DI Tom Calladine as he is portrayed to have immense strength of the character. He loves his job and gives his all, but his personal life is not running as smoothly. In this story, an arch-villain, Lazarov, from a previous case threatens Calladine, who is now a grandad, and his family. I also like the ordinariness of the characters. Calladine and Bayliss are friends as well as colleagues and their interactions are pleasing to read about.
Dead Sorry was complex and well-plotted with enough twists in the tale to keep me guessing. Although challenging, there was never any point that I was confused or lost. The easy and highly readable writing style of Helen H. Durrant meant there was no putting this one down to go and do something else! Towards the end, the threads of the plot merged, creating an exciting, horrifying conclusion. This was an incredibly riveting read with an addictive plot and a believable, if flawed, cast. This is a must-read, very highly recommended and I absolutely loved it. It would be great for any lover of police procedural novels and it's a five-star read!
Thanks to NetGalley, Joffe books and the author, Helen H. Durrant for the complimentary advanced copy. This is my honest and totally voluntary review.
June 12, 2021
I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of Dead Sorry, the eleventh novel to feature DI Tom Calladine and DS Ruth Bayliss set in the fictional town of Leesworth, Greater Manchester.
After a quiet time it’s suddenly all go in Leesworth. A body is discovered on the notorious Hobfield Estate and the crime scene suggests a link to bones found a few years earlier. Now Tom and Ruth have to investigate the old murder, the new murder and cover several other issues, like the threat posed to Tom and his family by vicious criminal Lazarov and the imminent arrival of the Leesworth Hoard, a priceless collection of Celtic jewellery.
I thoroughly enjoyed Dead Sorry and read it in one sitting, unable to put it down. I have been unable recently to find the necessary concentration for reading, so it was a pleasant surprise to get so involved and interested. That alone merits 5* from me.
The novel is well conceived and constructed and had me tied in knots, trying to work out who fits in where. I was amazed at how it all fits together after being baffled for so long. Some bits are easy to guess but mostly I didn’t have a clue. I enjoyed the author’s misdirection and fell for it all and I liked the links between the past and present. It is a complex web of connections told in an easily understandable way. I also liked the way the team gradually unravel it all, with simple bits of information offering further avenues of enquiry. I like a police procedural and this is a good example.
Tom and Ruth are old friends by now so it is pleasant to spend time with them. They have a natural working relationship that most people can identify with. Tom is now a grandfather and there will be changes for Ruth too. I like the way the author moves her characters and their lives forward with every novel. It’s one more thing to look forward to with this series.
Dead Sorry is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
After a quiet time it’s suddenly all go in Leesworth. A body is discovered on the notorious Hobfield Estate and the crime scene suggests a link to bones found a few years earlier. Now Tom and Ruth have to investigate the old murder, the new murder and cover several other issues, like the threat posed to Tom and his family by vicious criminal Lazarov and the imminent arrival of the Leesworth Hoard, a priceless collection of Celtic jewellery.
I thoroughly enjoyed Dead Sorry and read it in one sitting, unable to put it down. I have been unable recently to find the necessary concentration for reading, so it was a pleasant surprise to get so involved and interested. That alone merits 5* from me.
The novel is well conceived and constructed and had me tied in knots, trying to work out who fits in where. I was amazed at how it all fits together after being baffled for so long. Some bits are easy to guess but mostly I didn’t have a clue. I enjoyed the author’s misdirection and fell for it all and I liked the links between the past and present. It is a complex web of connections told in an easily understandable way. I also liked the way the team gradually unravel it all, with simple bits of information offering further avenues of enquiry. I like a police procedural and this is a good example.
Tom and Ruth are old friends by now so it is pleasant to spend time with them. They have a natural working relationship that most people can identify with. Tom is now a grandfather and there will be changes for Ruth too. I like the way the author moves her characters and their lives forward with every novel. It’s one more thing to look forward to with this series.
Dead Sorry is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
May 30, 2021
197 pages
4 stars
A drug and alcohol user named Becca O'Brien is murdered in an apartment she had taken over on in Hobfield Estate which has a very bad reputation.
Detective Tom Calladine and DS Ruth Bayliss respond to the case. The scene is horrible. The woman has been brutally murdered. Ruth wonder to Calladine if this has any connection to a twenty-some year old case. Bone were found under the home of an elderly woman. It was suspected, but not proven, that the bones were the woman's granddaughter. The same message was written above the body: “Sorry.”
The police discover that Jade O'Brien is still alive and in a care home. She has been there for twenty-four years.
Also going on is a new drug dealer in is town and determined to take over. Calladine and his daughter and granddaughter are being threatened by this individual. With zoe and the baby is a safe house, Calladine is determined to take this guy out. He knows who he is, an eastern European called Lazarov.
It all collides with a scheme to rob the museum of a Celtic hoard that will be on display soon. The thieves have a falling out. You might say they had a difference in priorities. The killer simply loses their head so to speak. Several people are killed.
I want to thank NetGalley and Joffe Books for forwarding to me a copy of this great book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
4 stars
A drug and alcohol user named Becca O'Brien is murdered in an apartment she had taken over on in Hobfield Estate which has a very bad reputation.
Detective Tom Calladine and DS Ruth Bayliss respond to the case. The scene is horrible. The woman has been brutally murdered. Ruth wonder to Calladine if this has any connection to a twenty-some year old case. Bone were found under the home of an elderly woman. It was suspected, but not proven, that the bones were the woman's granddaughter. The same message was written above the body: “Sorry.”
The police discover that Jade O'Brien is still alive and in a care home. She has been there for twenty-four years.
Also going on is a new drug dealer in is town and determined to take over. Calladine and his daughter and granddaughter are being threatened by this individual. With zoe and the baby is a safe house, Calladine is determined to take this guy out. He knows who he is, an eastern European called Lazarov.
It all collides with a scheme to rob the museum of a Celtic hoard that will be on display soon. The thieves have a falling out. You might say they had a difference in priorities. The killer simply loses their head so to speak. Several people are killed.
I want to thank NetGalley and Joffe Books for forwarding to me a copy of this great book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
May 26, 2021
Oh Gosh Book Eleven Calladine and Bayliss and it's a blinder of a read.
Twenty five year's ago what happened at Gorse House will stay hidden forever.
Leesdon Station Tom and Ruth are sent out to an incident on the rough Hobfield Estate a beating woman murdered, a frenzied attack someone lost it big time on this body who is named Becca Obrien the word sorry is written on the wall in a bloody heart. this is a reminder of an old murder at Gorse House twenty five year's ago Millie Reed and her Granny where a drawing was found heart shape with MR in the centre Millie was never found and her granny had died of a stroke Millie's tormenter Jade Obrien is dead Becca's daughter is there a link and relevant to this case?
Tom Calladine has a lot of old note searching to do way back then and also is dealing with personal things in his life to keep his family safe.
What a book with almighty twists to keep readers going, I love this series and these characters in every chapter your guessing the baddie then change your mind, this is one clever author and her book's are ones not to be missed off your lists, let's hope there's more from this duet Calladine and Bayliss as there is unfinished business wink wink I'm saying no more.
Twenty five year's ago what happened at Gorse House will stay hidden forever.
Leesdon Station Tom and Ruth are sent out to an incident on the rough Hobfield Estate a beating woman murdered, a frenzied attack someone lost it big time on this body who is named Becca Obrien the word sorry is written on the wall in a bloody heart. this is a reminder of an old murder at Gorse House twenty five year's ago Millie Reed and her Granny where a drawing was found heart shape with MR in the centre Millie was never found and her granny had died of a stroke Millie's tormenter Jade Obrien is dead Becca's daughter is there a link and relevant to this case?
Tom Calladine has a lot of old note searching to do way back then and also is dealing with personal things in his life to keep his family safe.
What a book with almighty twists to keep readers going, I love this series and these characters in every chapter your guessing the baddie then change your mind, this is one clever author and her book's are ones not to be missed off your lists, let's hope there's more from this duet Calladine and Bayliss as there is unfinished business wink wink I'm saying no more.
June 24, 2021
This book is part of a series. I haven't personally read any of the other books in the series, but this can be luckily read as a standalone. You still get a feel for the characters and their backstories trickled in without having to read the other books. Although, part of me wishes I had to maybe fully appreciate this book more.
This book is set out in a way that makes you feel like you have everything figured out pretty early in the story. Although a clever way to write, it meant I, unfortunately, wasn't fully absorbed as I read it. Within the first couple of chapters, I had it in my head I knew the ending. And Calladine pretty much knew it too. With other books in this genre, you're usually trying to work out the pieces as you go. Most of the pieces felt already figured out in this one. That meant I was pushing to just finish the book and not enjoying it as much as I should have. But then, once you reach the end... you realise you didn't actually know anything at all.
So, don't read the book thinking you're clearly too clever for the story and the ending is so obvious. It may come back to bite you in the ass.
This book is set out in a way that makes you feel like you have everything figured out pretty early in the story. Although a clever way to write, it meant I, unfortunately, wasn't fully absorbed as I read it. Within the first couple of chapters, I had it in my head I knew the ending. And Calladine pretty much knew it too. With other books in this genre, you're usually trying to work out the pieces as you go. Most of the pieces felt already figured out in this one. That meant I was pushing to just finish the book and not enjoying it as much as I should have. But then, once you reach the end... you realise you didn't actually know anything at all.
So, don't read the book thinking you're clearly too clever for the story and the ending is so obvious. It may come back to bite you in the ass.
September 8, 2021
Book 11 in this series and another one I really enjoyed. Lots of plotlines in this one that are linked but trying to work out why & how is the difficulty for our detectives. The past plays a big part here, not just a cold case murder that is similar to the current one but we have characters coming back too to cause havoc.
I like the relationship between Calladine and Bayliss. They work well together and it’s been great to see (read) them grow over the last 11 books. The story moves at a cracking pace and there are one or two red herrings to keep you going as they try and work out how all the events come together.
My only quibble is that of Calladne’s health. It runs through this book but then at the end turns out to be merely a warning in the epilogue. Maybe it will be explored more in the next book but to dismiss it seems like a waste in the build up.
Overall though another great book in the series and looking forward to the next one
I like the relationship between Calladine and Bayliss. They work well together and it’s been great to see (read) them grow over the last 11 books. The story moves at a cracking pace and there are one or two red herrings to keep you going as they try and work out how all the events come together.
My only quibble is that of Calladne’s health. It runs through this book but then at the end turns out to be merely a warning in the epilogue. Maybe it will be explored more in the next book but to dismiss it seems like a waste in the build up.
Overall though another great book in the series and looking forward to the next one
February 24, 2022
*Fast Packed Drama*
This instalment has a lot going on. We have bones discovered in a wall at the old house, where a schoolgirl lived with her grandmother. She was attacked there 25 years ago by 3 bullies. Flash forward to today when the mother of one of the bullies is found murdered at the infamous Hobfield housing estate. (All roads and stories seem to lead there)Written on the wall in blood is the word ‘sorry’.
Now that is a puzzle in itself but there is still unfinished business from the previous book between A Bulgarian dangerous criminal gangster Lazarov and DI Calladine.
Calladine’s life is in danger and the danger also extends to the life of his granddaughter’s life and family. So he has to protect his daughter and family and to add to it all, Marilyn his so called late cousin Ray’s wife is out on license early and wants to stay with him. That is a whole other story in itself, what is she up to?
Throw into the mix the super neat, finicky precise DCI Greco and you have all the right ingredients
On the personal front will Ruth and her ex patch things up & is there the possibility of a relationship for the commitment shy Tom?
Helen H. Durrant seems to pack a lot into her books and I have just devoured this series
This instalment has a lot going on. We have bones discovered in a wall at the old house, where a schoolgirl lived with her grandmother. She was attacked there 25 years ago by 3 bullies. Flash forward to today when the mother of one of the bullies is found murdered at the infamous Hobfield housing estate. (All roads and stories seem to lead there)Written on the wall in blood is the word ‘sorry’.
Now that is a puzzle in itself but there is still unfinished business from the previous book between A Bulgarian dangerous criminal gangster Lazarov and DI Calladine.
Calladine’s life is in danger and the danger also extends to the life of his granddaughter’s life and family. So he has to protect his daughter and family and to add to it all, Marilyn his so called late cousin Ray’s wife is out on license early and wants to stay with him. That is a whole other story in itself, what is she up to?
Throw into the mix the super neat, finicky precise DCI Greco and you have all the right ingredients
On the personal front will Ruth and her ex patch things up & is there the possibility of a relationship for the commitment shy Tom?
Helen H. Durrant seems to pack a lot into her books and I have just devoured this series
June 22, 2021
I’m absolutely amazed to find that this is the first book I’ve read in this series!
A quarter of a century ago, a schoolgirl is attacked by three bullies in the home she shares with her grandmother. Now, the body of a woman found relates back to this first crime as she is the mother of one of the bullies and when bones are found in the now abandoned home where the attack took place, they seem to belong to the attacked girl, giving Tom Calladine and Ruth Bayliss plenty to work on. On top of all of this, Tom’s new baby granddaughter is being threatened by arch-villain Lazarus, and a hoard of Celtic gold is due to arrive at the local museum. All of this stress is putting a lot of pressure on Tom Calladine . . .
I wonder if Helen H Durrant is a knitter? I like to think of this one as an Aran sweater with all the complicated stitches that involves: slip stitches, ones that are knitted into several times and plenty of cables twisting first one way and then the other, but resulting in a finished garment with no fraying edges. There is some very clever writing which had me thinking one way when in fact it wasn’t the case. Well-plotted and smartly written, this is another triumph for the author with a pair of detectives I’ll happily read again. Gripping to the very last, and thoroughly enjoyable. There is no reason not to give this one all five stars – it earns them, easily. Highly recommended.
A quarter of a century ago, a schoolgirl is attacked by three bullies in the home she shares with her grandmother. Now, the body of a woman found relates back to this first crime as she is the mother of one of the bullies and when bones are found in the now abandoned home where the attack took place, they seem to belong to the attacked girl, giving Tom Calladine and Ruth Bayliss plenty to work on. On top of all of this, Tom’s new baby granddaughter is being threatened by arch-villain Lazarus, and a hoard of Celtic gold is due to arrive at the local museum. All of this stress is putting a lot of pressure on Tom Calladine . . .
I wonder if Helen H Durrant is a knitter? I like to think of this one as an Aran sweater with all the complicated stitches that involves: slip stitches, ones that are knitted into several times and plenty of cables twisting first one way and then the other, but resulting in a finished garment with no fraying edges. There is some very clever writing which had me thinking one way when in fact it wasn’t the case. Well-plotted and smartly written, this is another triumph for the author with a pair of detectives I’ll happily read again. Gripping to the very last, and thoroughly enjoyable. There is no reason not to give this one all five stars – it earns them, easily. Highly recommended.
June 6, 2021
THIS IS THE BOOK I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR.
I have been a fan of Helen H. Durrant for years now, and enjoyed most all of her different novels and series. However, I had begun to notice that the last few have all been so similar that it was easy to guess exactly which direction the story was going to go and who was going to be behind everything.
Dead Sorry, thankfully, was more in line with the books I remember from this author. The kind that not only follows the detectives throughout the course of their investigation, but also touches on their home lives. Little scenes or notations that make them seem like real people on a real case. This was the kind of that leads you to follow one path, only to make you realize that you've been wrong all along.
I was captivated from the first with this story, staying up far later than normal to finish so I could find out just who was behind the murders, and whose bones had been found all those years ago. Each time I thought I was close to figuring it out, another thread was unraveled, making me second guess my thoughts until finally, it all came together in one very surprising package.
I would definitely recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys a well written police procedural, and I can't wait to read more from this author!
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.
I have been a fan of Helen H. Durrant for years now, and enjoyed most all of her different novels and series. However, I had begun to notice that the last few have all been so similar that it was easy to guess exactly which direction the story was going to go and who was going to be behind everything.
Dead Sorry, thankfully, was more in line with the books I remember from this author. The kind that not only follows the detectives throughout the course of their investigation, but also touches on their home lives. Little scenes or notations that make them seem like real people on a real case. This was the kind of that leads you to follow one path, only to make you realize that you've been wrong all along.
I was captivated from the first with this story, staying up far later than normal to finish so I could find out just who was behind the murders, and whose bones had been found all those years ago. Each time I thought I was close to figuring it out, another thread was unraveled, making me second guess my thoughts until finally, it all came together in one very surprising package.
I would definitely recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys a well written police procedural, and I can't wait to read more from this author!
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.
May 31, 2021
It was so good to be back with Calladine and the team, and of course his family. I think there is real warmth to the characters, and as a fellow Manc, Helen is just wonderful with her creativity. Even Greco has mellowed somewhat and he’s not such a pain the preverbal. Although I do love gritty, dark crime novels, sometimes it’s just nice to read a book where everyone is doing their job, and not stabbing each other in the back.
This time the story starts with repercussions that took place over 25 years ago, and the knock on effect that has happened. A body is found in a derelict house where young Millie lived with her Nan.
This is such a tightly weaved plot, Helen is such a clever writer and the twists and turns were so illuminating, I didn’t see them coming. There are a lot of red herrings and I really didn’t see who was behind it all. I really enjoyed this book, and once again I’m still awake until 2:45am to find out what happened.
It can be read as a stand alone, but to get the real benefit, and background to the characters its better to read them in order. I can assure you, you won’t be disappointed. In fact I’m sure there is a box set on Amazon so they can be read back to back.
My thanks to Helen, and Joffe Publishers for the ARC.
This time the story starts with repercussions that took place over 25 years ago, and the knock on effect that has happened. A body is found in a derelict house where young Millie lived with her Nan.
This is such a tightly weaved plot, Helen is such a clever writer and the twists and turns were so illuminating, I didn’t see them coming. There are a lot of red herrings and I really didn’t see who was behind it all. I really enjoyed this book, and once again I’m still awake until 2:45am to find out what happened.
It can be read as a stand alone, but to get the real benefit, and background to the characters its better to read them in order. I can assure you, you won’t be disappointed. In fact I’m sure there is a box set on Amazon so they can be read back to back.
My thanks to Helen, and Joffe Publishers for the ARC.
May 31, 2021
Many years ago a young girl was viciously attacked with a hammer. Present day and her mother is found dead and there are links to another murder at the time of the attack. DI Tom Calladine and his sidekick Ruth are on the case however Tom has his own issues. His grand-daughter is in danger from an old adversary who wants Tom on side and his cousins wife is out of prison and wants to stay with him- otherwise she will take Sam, the dog he has grown very fond of. I really enjoy this series- it's more than “just” a crime/detective book. There is a warmth and depth of character which comes to life through the pages- to me the sign of a skilled writer and you feel that camaraderie with them. This is part of a series and would probably stand alone however some of the subplots/character threads may not make sense. Tom is struggling with his home life (or lack of?) and his health and work is getting ever more complex when one clue leads to another possibly seemingly unrelated crime. A very thought out plot, a wonderful, very enjoyable read.
May 31, 2021
Classic Helen Durrant, well worth a read, you won't be disappointed!
Dead Sorry can be read alone, but does follow on nicely in the Calladine & Bayliss mystery series.
An intriguing and interesting prologue, relating to an alleged fight between schoolgirls, that happened 25 years ago. There is murder mayhem, drug dealing and a personal vendetta against Calladine. How does it all tie together and whose version of events should we believe? Just when you think you have worked it out there is another twist!
Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for my digital copy.
Dead Sorry can be read alone, but does follow on nicely in the Calladine & Bayliss mystery series.
An intriguing and interesting prologue, relating to an alleged fight between schoolgirls, that happened 25 years ago. There is murder mayhem, drug dealing and a personal vendetta against Calladine. How does it all tie together and whose version of events should we believe? Just when you think you have worked it out there is another twist!
Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for my digital copy.
June 19, 2021
This is book eleven 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 further in this story and also references are made to previous events which are much easier to understand if you’ve read the earlier books. 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. DCI Stephen Greco from Oldston is starting to settle into his new posting and really slots well into the team in this story. DS Ruth Bayliss is coping with life without partner Jake after his affair, and DC Alice Bolshaw and DC Simon "Rocco" Rockliffe are getting close.
Book ten left us on a bit of a cliff-hanger with the knowledge that criminal boss Andrei Lazarov was on the loose and swearing revenge on Calladine. Amongst the presents for the birth of baby Maisie to Calladine’s daughter Zoe and her partner Jo, fathered by senior forensic scientist Professor Julian Batho, a teddy bear appears to have come from Lazarov, and Calladine wastes no time in putting in protection for the family. At least a chance meeting with an attractive woman running a new restaurant has put a smile on Calladine’s face but is she all she seems to be? The story really starts with the discovery of a woman’s battered corpse in Heron Tower on the Hobfield. She was known to be a drug addict and was heard arguing with a man earlier that night. However there is a strange message daubed on the wall in blood and this puts Ruth in mind of a case a few years ago, where the same thing appeared at the scene of the discovery of a twenty five year old murder. Most sinister of all, the current dead woman was the mother of a girl linked to that crime. The race is on to find the killer and this also then re-opens the old case where the victim was never properly identified. Who was that victim and why was she killed? There are a lot of secrets to be unearthed by the detectives as the body count rises and a turf war breaks out. Poor old Calladine – a murdered woman, his family under threat, a cold case to solve and now his cousin’s murdering wife wants to stay with him! As the team make more shock discoveries and delve into the past, the different threads all start to collide with horrifying results.
What a magnificent tale this author weaves! There is absolutely loads going on in this story jam-packed with crimes and faces old and new. The pace is kept up superbly throughout in a first rate police procedural with a cast of very likeable characters and a clever plot to keep the reader guessing right to the end. Highly recommended! 5*
Book ten left us on a bit of a cliff-hanger with the knowledge that criminal boss Andrei Lazarov was on the loose and swearing revenge on Calladine. Amongst the presents for the birth of baby Maisie to Calladine’s daughter Zoe and her partner Jo, fathered by senior forensic scientist Professor Julian Batho, a teddy bear appears to have come from Lazarov, and Calladine wastes no time in putting in protection for the family. At least a chance meeting with an attractive woman running a new restaurant has put a smile on Calladine’s face but is she all she seems to be? The story really starts with the discovery of a woman’s battered corpse in Heron Tower on the Hobfield. She was known to be a drug addict and was heard arguing with a man earlier that night. However there is a strange message daubed on the wall in blood and this puts Ruth in mind of a case a few years ago, where the same thing appeared at the scene of the discovery of a twenty five year old murder. Most sinister of all, the current dead woman was the mother of a girl linked to that crime. The race is on to find the killer and this also then re-opens the old case where the victim was never properly identified. Who was that victim and why was she killed? There are a lot of secrets to be unearthed by the detectives as the body count rises and a turf war breaks out. Poor old Calladine – a murdered woman, his family under threat, a cold case to solve and now his cousin’s murdering wife wants to stay with him! As the team make more shock discoveries and delve into the past, the different threads all start to collide with horrifying results.
What a magnificent tale this author weaves! There is absolutely loads going on in this story jam-packed with crimes and faces old and new. The pace is kept up superbly throughout in a first rate police procedural with a cast of very likeable characters and a clever plot to keep the reader guessing right to the end. Highly recommended! 5*
August 15, 2021
When it comes to British Mysteries, I tend to find them a hit/miss but as this one featured my favorite tropes of past cases resurfacing I was intrigued and as the book read on, I was hooked. This book starts with the case of Millie who has been bullied by Jade and her friends, one too many times and Millie freaked and attacked Kaz and Jade whilst Sarah ran. Now Twenty Five years on, a woman at the Hobfield Estate which is like the UK slums and poor people estates has been found dead. Next to her body is a picture of a heart and in the middle, the initials MR are written in blood with the word Sorry. The woman killed is the mum of the girl who was involved in the incident twenty-five years ago with Millie and the same message was left. After the day twenty-five years ago, Millie has never been seen again and now a set of bones have been found matching a teenage girl. Calladine and Bayliss's Book #11 was an action-packed thriller and was filled with a couple of interlocked storylines from Drug lords to Past/Present Murder and PI's with an added hint of romantics suspense to the story as Calladine finds himself with a potential love interest in Kitty Lake. I am now looking forward to going back and checking out the rest of the series. The other thing I loved, is that each book can be read as a stand-alone tale.
June 18, 2021
I have been a fan of Helen’s work for a fair while now. I haven’t quite caught up with everything that she has written to date but I am getting there. I especially love the series featuring Detective Calladine and Bayliss. ‘Dead Sorry’ is the latest book in the s1eries and it was released on 17th June 2021. It is another corker of a read, which I thoroughly enjoyed reading but more about that in a bit.
The fact that Helen’s name was on the cover was enough to convince me that I had to read the book just as soon as I could. So when I managed to get my hands on a copy of the book, I squirrelled myself away and hibernated until I read the very last word on the very last page. This was one of those books that I managed to finish within the space of a few hours. My Kindle wasn’t exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it went everywhere with me. I just couldn’t bear to miss a single second of the story. The more of the book that I read, the more I wanted to read and the quicker the pages seemed to turn. All too quickly I reached the end of the book and I had to bid farewell to Calladine and Bayliss. I found ‘Dead Sorry’ to be a gripping read, which kept me guessing and which kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.
‘Dead Sorry’ is superbly written but then to be fair I have always found Helen’s books to be superbly written. She certainly knows how to grab the reader’s attention and draw them into what proves to be one hell of a story. I found that the story started with a bang and from then on it maintained a fairly fast pace. Reading ‘Dead Sorry’ felt like being on a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with many twists and turns along the way. I always find with Helen’s books that I feel as though I am part of the story myself and I ‘live’ the story as it were real. Helen has certainly created a tense and dramatic story.
In short I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Dead Sorry’ and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Helen’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
The fact that Helen’s name was on the cover was enough to convince me that I had to read the book just as soon as I could. So when I managed to get my hands on a copy of the book, I squirrelled myself away and hibernated until I read the very last word on the very last page. This was one of those books that I managed to finish within the space of a few hours. My Kindle wasn’t exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it went everywhere with me. I just couldn’t bear to miss a single second of the story. The more of the book that I read, the more I wanted to read and the quicker the pages seemed to turn. All too quickly I reached the end of the book and I had to bid farewell to Calladine and Bayliss. I found ‘Dead Sorry’ to be a gripping read, which kept me guessing and which kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.
‘Dead Sorry’ is superbly written but then to be fair I have always found Helen’s books to be superbly written. She certainly knows how to grab the reader’s attention and draw them into what proves to be one hell of a story. I found that the story started with a bang and from then on it maintained a fairly fast pace. Reading ‘Dead Sorry’ felt like being on a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with many twists and turns along the way. I always find with Helen’s books that I feel as though I am part of the story myself and I ‘live’ the story as it were real. Helen has certainly created a tense and dramatic story.
In short I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Dead Sorry’ and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Helen’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
July 21, 2022
Dead Real by Helen H. Durrant is the WoW 12th book in the brilliant D.S. Ruth Bayliss and D.I. Tom Calladine series and this has been an excellent series especially as I have not read all these books within this series and in order, but i never found it hard to find my way around these book, Helen is an excellent author and has a way of drawing in new and old fans into the story I've always found her books interesting and always gripped at the beginning till the end. All the characters are brilliant and i love the 2 main characters D.S. Ruth Bayliss and D.I. Tom Calladine.
I highly recommend this series and looking forward to the next instalment..
Big Thank you to Netgalley, Joffe Books and the author for my ARC. I loved it x
I highly recommend this series and looking forward to the next instalment..
Big Thank you to Netgalley, Joffe Books and the author for my ARC. I loved it x
June 27, 2021
DEAD SORRY by Helen H. Durrant Not sorry at all about this addition for the Callatine and Bayless series. A fast, paced, action filled, with all the twists and turns which the author deftly knits into the storyline. Enjoyed revisiting old friends , DCI Stephen Greco is beginning to interact with the team, Ruth is coping after breaking up with Jake and Alice and Rocco are getting closer. Tom receives a death threat to him and his family, has some health issues, former adversities returning and a new Kitty in in life. Add to all that is a cold case come back to life and a number of execution style murders. Most definitely looking forward to the next book in the series.
Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.
Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.
June 14, 2021
So... book 11 in the series and, as per usual, I am going to recommend you start from book one and read in order. Mostly for character background and development reasons but also cos they are all darned fine books!
This is one of my favourite series and I jump on each new release as soon as I can get my hands on it. Even this far along in the series each new book is still as fresh as the first with absolutely no signs of flagging. In fact, if I might be so bold, this one is probably one of the best of the series, and that's quite a high bar to reach let along raise!
So, we start in the past where we witness a schoolgirl being attacked by three bullies. Back in the present, in the notorious Hobfield Estate, a man is found murdered. With the word "sorry" written in blood on a nearby wall. Enter Calladine and Bayliss to investigate. Throw into the mix the a new love interest for Calladine, along with threats to his family, and the impending arrival of a hoard of gold to display at the museum, and you have got yourself a doozy of a read. One that hit the ground running for me, kept me captive throughout, spitting me out at the end, shattered but satisfied.
I've already said I love this series. Be it the tight, well executed plots, the well crafted characters - both main and extras - or the no nonsense, no padding delivery - maybe a combination of all of these things but, even with a lot going out outwith the main story, I find my time spent reading wholly enjoyable.
In fact, the only bad thing about each book is the approach to the end when I am torn between wanting to know how it all wraps up - cos I never manage to guess all in advance - and feeling a bit sad to have to leave the characters again for a while. But hey, hopefully book 12 will not be a long time coming... My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
This is one of my favourite series and I jump on each new release as soon as I can get my hands on it. Even this far along in the series each new book is still as fresh as the first with absolutely no signs of flagging. In fact, if I might be so bold, this one is probably one of the best of the series, and that's quite a high bar to reach let along raise!
So, we start in the past where we witness a schoolgirl being attacked by three bullies. Back in the present, in the notorious Hobfield Estate, a man is found murdered. With the word "sorry" written in blood on a nearby wall. Enter Calladine and Bayliss to investigate. Throw into the mix the a new love interest for Calladine, along with threats to his family, and the impending arrival of a hoard of gold to display at the museum, and you have got yourself a doozy of a read. One that hit the ground running for me, kept me captive throughout, spitting me out at the end, shattered but satisfied.
I've already said I love this series. Be it the tight, well executed plots, the well crafted characters - both main and extras - or the no nonsense, no padding delivery - maybe a combination of all of these things but, even with a lot going out outwith the main story, I find my time spent reading wholly enjoyable.
In fact, the only bad thing about each book is the approach to the end when I am torn between wanting to know how it all wraps up - cos I never manage to guess all in advance - and feeling a bit sad to have to leave the characters again for a while. But hey, hopefully book 12 will not be a long time coming... My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
March 6, 2024
Another cleverly worked mystery in this series. Thoroughly enjoyable.
June 8, 2021
Hard to believe this is the eleventh book in the Tom Calladine and Ruth Bayliss series and once again I really enjoyed it every bit as much as I have done all those that went before.
It opens with an incident that took place 25 years earlier, a school girl attacked at her grandmothers home. The attackers were well known as bullies at her school.
Fast forward to today and the discovery of one of the bullies mothers beaten to death in a flat on the Hobfield estate.
Written in blood on one of the walls are the words "sorry" and a heart.
Could these incidents be linked ?
Add to this the fact that Lazarov, the bulgarian drug dealer is back in the area and threatening to destroy Tom once and for all.
When he targets Tom`s family things really start to hot up.
Can Tom and Ruth get to the truth of who is responsible for the dead bodies that are being discovered, especially when Lazrov himself is found shot through the head and stuffed in an old freezer.
So easy to recommend this, yes it can be read as a standalone, though I`d urge you to read the whole series in order.
Great characters, interesting plot with enough twists to keep you guessing right to the end.
Thanks to Joffe books for the chance to read this as an ARC.
It opens with an incident that took place 25 years earlier, a school girl attacked at her grandmothers home. The attackers were well known as bullies at her school.
Fast forward to today and the discovery of one of the bullies mothers beaten to death in a flat on the Hobfield estate.
Written in blood on one of the walls are the words "sorry" and a heart.
Could these incidents be linked ?
Add to this the fact that Lazarov, the bulgarian drug dealer is back in the area and threatening to destroy Tom once and for all.
When he targets Tom`s family things really start to hot up.
Can Tom and Ruth get to the truth of who is responsible for the dead bodies that are being discovered, especially when Lazrov himself is found shot through the head and stuffed in an old freezer.
So easy to recommend this, yes it can be read as a standalone, though I`d urge you to read the whole series in order.
Great characters, interesting plot with enough twists to keep you guessing right to the end.
Thanks to Joffe books for the chance to read this as an ARC.
June 9, 2021
This book is the latest in the ‘Calladine and Bayliss’ series but can easily be read as a standalone.
DI Tom and DS Ruth work really well together, and the partnership is believable. This story goes back to an incident 25 years ago where a schoolgirl was attacked by three bullies when she invited them back for tea at her grandmother’s house.
Fast forward to the present, and the mother of one of those bullies has been found murdered. ‘Sorry’ is written on the wall in the victim’s blood. Then bones are found up at the derelict house where the original incident took place all those years ago.
On top of this mystery to solve, there is a valuable hoard of gold coming to the local museum and needing police help with security, and a known criminal – Lazarov – is threatening DI Tom’s little granddaughter.
Really enjoyed this book, it hooked me in and kept me guessing.
Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.
DI Tom and DS Ruth work really well together, and the partnership is believable. This story goes back to an incident 25 years ago where a schoolgirl was attacked by three bullies when she invited them back for tea at her grandmother’s house.
Fast forward to the present, and the mother of one of those bullies has been found murdered. ‘Sorry’ is written on the wall in the victim’s blood. Then bones are found up at the derelict house where the original incident took place all those years ago.
On top of this mystery to solve, there is a valuable hoard of gold coming to the local museum and needing police help with security, and a known criminal – Lazarov – is threatening DI Tom’s little granddaughter.
Really enjoyed this book, it hooked me in and kept me guessing.
Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.
July 9, 2024
I seem to have waited ages for the latest two books in this series to come to Audible, and just like buses two come along at once. Not that I'm complaining!
I love this series. The crimes are grisly, the characters are realistically portrayed and I really don't know how Helen manages to fit so much into a fairly short book. Once again Calladine's love life starts to get complicated. I don't know how he does it! And there are changes for Bayliss too. Highly recommended series.
Expertly narrated by the incomparable Jonathan Keeble.
I love this series. The crimes are grisly, the characters are realistically portrayed and I really don't know how Helen manages to fit so much into a fairly short book. Once again Calladine's love life starts to get complicated. I don't know how he does it! And there are changes for Bayliss too. Highly recommended series.
Expertly narrated by the incomparable Jonathan Keeble.
June 17, 2021
This is a wonderful addition to this thrilling series!
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building that adds so much to the story.
Such a thrilling read that I couldn't put it down.
Can't wait to read more of these.
Recommend reading.
I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my own honest voluntary review.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building that adds so much to the story.
Such a thrilling read that I couldn't put it down.
Can't wait to read more of these.
Recommend reading.
I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my own honest voluntary review.
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