Jailed thirty years ago for a murder he didn’t commit, Arvel Baines has been plotting his revenge ever since.
He’s going to ruin the lives of all those responsible for framing him. And one man in particular will be made to suffer more than the rest.
When the son of the true killer wakes up on his kitchen floor to find his wife dead and teenage daughter missing, so begins a deadly game of cat and mouse.
Soon the Murder Squad are tasked with finding the missing girl, drawing DCI Reece into the mix.
Can Baines carry out his gruesome vendetta before he’s caught?
Will Reece outsmart another killer?
And what happens to the missing Isla?
A fast-paced, crime thriller, perfect for readers of Stuart MacBride.
ISLA’S Missing is the third novel in the Murder Squad Thriller Series, a gripping police procedural thriller by author Liam Hanson. This novel can be read as a standalone, but I recommend taking advantage of this great series and reading them all for clarity and content.
This is book 3 in the murder squad thriller but can read as a standalone.
Books in the Murder Squad Thriller Series Include:
The Other Her Previously Lies People Tell She’s Next Previously Dead People Sleep Isla’s Missing
Book 1 is the story of DCI Bran Reece and his team of DS Elan Jenkins, DC Ffion Morgan and DC Bobby Ward based at Cardiff Bay Police Station. Reece suffering from PTSD, after recently witnessing the murder of his wife, has been put on sick leave. Reece is an outstanding detective with his own unconventional methods, and works well together with Jenkins, who has her own personal problems.
In Book 2-Back at work after being shot, DCI Bran Reece is still struggling following his wife’s murder nearly eighteen months earlier. As Reece and his team investigate a number of separate murders, he suspects they are linked, despite the evidence suggesting otherwise.
This is the review of Book 3, Isla’s Missing.
Arvel Baines has just been released from prison after serving thirty years for a crime he didn’t commit. Now he wants his revenge!
He’s going to ruin the lives of all those responsible for framing him. And one man in particular will be made to suffer more than the rest.
When the son of the true killer wakes up on his kitchen floor to find his wife dead and teenage daughter missing, so begins a deadly game of cat and mouse.
The Murder Squad under DCI Reece are assigned to find the missing girl.
Will Baines be able to carry out his vendetta before he’s caught? Will Reece catch the killer? Where is the missing Isla?
This is a fast-paced crime thriller that will appeal to a wide audience. The characters are well-written, engaging and very relatable. The series keeps getting better.
Many thanks to the author and Bloodhound Books for my digital copy.
Thirty years ago a man was murdered, and another man framed for the act. All these years he's been plotting his revenge.
Arvel Baines swears to ruin all the lives of those who responsible for the murder and for his losing 30 years of his own life. There is one man in particular who will be made to suffer more than the others.
When the son of the actual killer wakes up on his kitchen floor to find his wife dead and daughter, Isla, missing, so begins a deathly game of cat and mouse.
DCI Reese of the Murder Squad and his team have been called in to investigate. Not only do they have to find the missing teenager, they must stop the killer before more lives are lost, and they have to go back 30 years to look into the crime that started it all.
This is a fast=paced crime thriller, suspenseful from start to finish. The characters are all deftly drawn. The real killers are identified early on, but it's how the cases are solved that keeps the reader glued to the pages. Although 3rd in the series, this is easily read as a stand alone, however, I do recommend books read in order to grab those little nuggets of what makes this an intriguing series.
Many thanks to the author / Bloodhound Books for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
He's had thirty years to plot his revenge on those who have done him wrong and put him in jail for something he didn't do. It a very good story about someone trying to right a wrong in his mind...even though what he is now doing is wrong. But can he be stopped? I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
December 1989 and in a field in Radyr, Cardiff, a tussle between two warring farmers ends in tragedy. One lies dead and the other, Emlyn Kosh, knowing he will be blamed, instigates a plan to frame a squatter on his land. Killing two birds with one stone, so to speak. Under the investigation of DI Idris Kneath (Reece’s future father in law) and his new DC Bran Reece, the camper, Arvel Baines, is convicted of murder. The story switches to the present day, and Baines, having served 30 years, is released – and is out for revenge. All the usual team are here at Cardiff Bay Police Station - DS Elan Jenkins trying to keep out of trouble after her disciplinary hearing and still in a relationship with forensic pathologist Dr Cara Frost, DC Ffion Morgan and DC Owen “Ginge" Evans. And with his knee shattered and best mate Denny Cartwright shot dead, Reece’s nemesis ruthless Billy Creed is very much in the picture still running his gangland empire from the Midnight Club. When Reece is called to the scene of the murder of Diric Ali, tortured with an electric drill and then suffocated with a plastic bag, his suspicions immediately turn to Creed. He’s not far wrong either, as we later see Creed dishing out a punishment to one of his hired thugs. A month later and there’s no progress on this, but Reece has his hands full anyway. A strange case comes his way. John Kosh freely admits to the murder of his wife Helen, but claims he has no idea where his daughter is. Isla is missing and it is the job of Reece and the team to find her. Something just doesn’t feel right though. Of course, the reader knows exactly what has happened, and also what befell the Druid Inn landlord who gave Emlyn an alibi all those years ago. Baines has started on his spree of revenge but who else is on his list? Someone’s watching him too, and things just got mighty complicated. There is a great deal mentioned in this book about the first two stories involving Reece and the Cardiff Murder Squad, including details of the plots and what the team have been through. I would suggest if you don’t want spoilers, then read these other two books first – you will find two excellent stories as well as getting the full background on this wonderful array of characters. Once again we see the lovely caring side demonstrated by Elan and the real tight knit loyalty shown by the team towards each other. Reece drives Chief Supt Rachel Cable to despair at times but even she shows her support for him when it is needed, and best mate Yanto is there for him as always. Ginge is proving to be a really talented and dedicated detective and it was great to see the inept DI Adams making an appearance. With a dynamite ending that blew me away, this book has everything - great settings, wonderful characters and a superb plot which all go to make up the best story to date in a fantastic series I can thoroughly recommend. A little twist at the end indicates there is more to come for Reece and I for one cannot wait!! 5*
4.75* Murder squad book #3 Arvel Baines has had 30 years of stewing in jail for a murder that he didn’t commit. He has had plenty of time to plan his sworn revenge. When the son of the true killer wakes up on his kitchen floor to find his wife dead and his teenage daughter missing it looks like game on… It grabbed me from the beginning as we are led straight into the guts of the story. Arvel is very inventive with his revenge methods. I love the concise, to the point easy going writing style. It still manages to be totally descriptive without losing any pace, which motors along well. It’s doesn’t all go Arvel’s way. A favourite quote ‘Billy Creed had introduced the mother of all complications’. There’s so much going on keeping me engrossed. The story unfolds using 4 points of view. -Arvel isn’t a likeable character, he has some moral code, not wanting to kill randomly, but that seems to be his only redeeming feature, unsurprising after 30 yrs in prison. -John Kosh, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. -Reece seems like a good cop. He is following his instincts which tell him all is not as it looks. I like the friendship with his long time friend Yanto. -Isla who is only known to be missing by the police. She is gutsy. The ‘kangaroo petrol’ comment made me chuckle and bought back some old memories. It has quite an action packed but realistic ending. I loved this book. I highly recommend it. All it’s missing is that little extra something to make it into my books of the year.
Book 3 in the DI Reece series and I truly think they get better and better. I loved the start of the book which introduced us to Bran Reece as a young constable, but also set the scene for the rest of the book. The writing, the settings, the plot lines are all great.
Briefly, Baines has been released from prison after 30 years, having been found guilty of a crime he didn’t commit, and he is bent on retribution. He targets the family of the real killer, murdering the wife and kidnapping the daughter. The Murder squad are handed the case and Reece and his team need to find the killer before he kills again. Is it really the cut and dried case it appears to be? Meanwhile Reece’s nemesis, Billy Creed, is also interested in Baines...
This is so well written and full of suspense. I started off feeling sympathy for Baines but that soon changed when he killed an innocent person. As for the climactic ending to the book. Wow. Sorry no spoilers here you will need to read the book. Book 4 please Mr Hanson. 5*
Isla's Missing is definitely a book that you can't put down! This is the first book that I've read by Liam Hanson and it won't be the last as DCI Reece is such a well written character and I want to read more about him and his team. I was fortunate to be given an ARC of this book and even though I had not read any of the previous books it really didn't matter as the book actually starts with one of Reece's first cases as a young detective constable. Reece is not convinced that the right man has been convicted and the reader finds out what happens thirty years later when a wrongly imprisoned man is released from prison with revenge uppermost in his mind. The tension builds slowly, with another murder case that seems too clear cut to DCI Reece, fortunately this time he trusts his instinct and with the help of a young detective on his team, all the pieces start to fit together. Will the team be able to save Isla? Thanks to Bloodhound books and congratulation to Liam Hanson on a brilliant thriller.
What do you do when you’ve been wrongly convicted of murder in a small town and you’re the token ‘outsider’? This is the exact position that Arvel Baines find himself in one snowy evening. A murder weapon is suspiciously found on his property and with his fate in the hands of the lackadaisical local police force Arvel knows his days as a free man are limited.
Fast-forward 30-years having served his sentence and the only thing on Arvel’s mind is his looming vendetta. One by one he tracks down those who have done him wrong but Arvil finds himself in a new predicament; one he didn’t plan for and one he just can’t seem to shake. Can he carryout all the tasks on his list before he finds himself in danger?
This is the third book in the Murder Squad series and it’s just as fantastic as the others. Don’t fret if you haven’t read the others (yet) these books can easily read as standalones but trust me, you’ll be picking up the previous books in the series to get the full scope of the struggles that DCI Reece and his team have overcome.
This is my second book by this author, and the third book in the series.
Having previously read the second book in the series, I was really looking forward to this latest book. It definitely didn’t leave me disappointed, it only left me wanting more.
DCI Reece is such a brilliant character.
Each of the books in the series can definitely be read as a standalone read, but I would highly recommend reading the others.
The author again, gives you some brilliant twists and turns, and moments that will have you holding your breath.
Action packed from the beginning this will have you on the edge of your seat.
Even though you are going between the past and present the authors clever writing let’s you know exactly where you are.
I am looking forward to reading more from this author.
This is a story that have a bunch of twisted, and turn. From the very beginning of the book it has has a the perfect set up for the revenge. and mystery . This is a great story has eye for a eye, what you do to me I do back to you, or hit me I'll hit you harder. A man in prison wants revenge for a crime he didn't do, and he plans to make someone pay or other pay who wrong him. Isla is kidnapped by the killer of her mother, and the same killer have framing her father John Kosh for her mother's murder also his wife. Reece is the man that fight for John Kosh, and his missing daughter Isla; he the one investigating the case of Isla kidnapping and what really happen. This is a great story I don't want to give the plot or storyline away. this is a worthwhile book to read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This starts off with the "accidental" murder of a farmer by his sworn enemy for generations. A strange man in town who in unwanted and unwelcome squatting in his caravan on the famers land is made to take the blame. A young Brian Reece knows its wrong but he gets shut down if he dare mention it. Arvel Baines is released after spending 30 years inside for this murder and wants revenge starting off killing one man's wife, setting him up for murder and kidnapping his daughter. However he comes to the attention of well known gangster and long time of adversary of Reece, Billy Creed. It follows the cat and mouse chase between all 3 groups and is very quick towards the end once the pieces start to fall into place. Another fantastic book by a top top author.
I enjoyed this suspenseful thriller. This is a newer author for me which I enjoyed reading. This is a well written story about a game of cat and mouse mixed in with revenge and you have a fast paced story. The characters brought the story to life on each page. They are relateable and made the story fun to read. Arvel has spent the last thirty years in prison for a crime that he was framed for. The action and suspense picks up and it was hard to put down. The twists and turns left me sitting on the edge of my seat. This was a great story and Im glad I picked it up. I highly recommend this book.
The prologue introduces us to Bran Reece when he was a young cop and an innocent man, Arvel Baines, who is sentence to 30 years in prison for a murder he didn’t commit.
30 years on and Baines has had a lot of time to brood and is now after revenge. Billy Creed takes an unhealthy interest in what Baines is up to.
This is book 3 in the series and each story gets better. The characters, whether good or bad, are well written. The story is fast paced and kept me hooked. I’m enjoying reading a little more about the team members too. Hopefully not too long until book 4!
My introduction to this author and i very much enjoyed the multi layered aspect of the story. The revenge element left you asking lots of questions and the characters were excellent and well developed. There is an element involving a cardiff gangster that wasn't really for me as it delved more into the thriller element but thats more of a personal reading choice. It's an easy pacy read that will leave you thinking 4* from me
A good read, well written and good storyline. A new author for me and it took me a while to get to the style of writing but once I did I enjoyed the book. There are a couple of books previous to this but you can get away with reading it as a stand-alone. I won’t write about the storyline as this is the job of the blurb but a Welsh police procedural with DCI Ryan at the helm, and an investigation that takes him back to an incident from 30 years ago.
I have just finished reading Isla’s Missing by Liam Hanson. It is book 3 in the DCI Bran Reece series. What a great read. Loved the storyline. Baines was stitched up for a killing he didn’t do and was imprisoned for 30 years. On his release he has plans for revenge, but those plans have consequences. I loved the ending too. I have read the other 2 books in the series, which were good reads, and look forward to reading the next in the series
Third book in the series and although they can be read as standalones, they are best read in order. DCI Reece is back and with lots of twists and turns, the book doesn't disappoint. Great story and certainly recommended. Thanks to Bloodhound Books for the ARC to review.
This was my first book in this series (I know I should have read the others and now I will).
It took me a while to get used to the author's writing style and narrative which is why I have taken a star off, as I was initially not engaged and had to keep reading, but then it got really good so will be off to investigate the first two books for complete context.
I was given an advance copy by bloodhounds but the review is entirely my own.
This the 3rd book in the series featuring gritty welsh DCI Bran Reece and his Murder Squad.
These excellent stories set in Wales are great reads and this 3rd book takes us back to when Reece was just starting out.
When Avril Baines is released from prison some 30 years after being imprisoned for a murder he never committed he has only one thing on his mind - to take revenge on everyone who wronged him and took his life away.
With his engaging writing style, Liam Hanson is a writer I credit with pulling me out of a sever reading slump, he’s really that good, and this thriller with dark tones and searing humour throughout is another cracking good piece of Welsh Crime.
For fans of the series from book 1, there’s a brilliant back story playing out which takes a wicked turn at the end of the book.
A Fast paced thriller with whip smart dialogue, a dark devious plot with a protagonist who’s growing with every book and a great cast of characters.
Tense, Dark and criminally good writing, if you haven’t checked out Hanson yet, now is the time
There are twists, there are turns, and there are tense moments with such close calls they almost leave you gasping.
Reece is a favourite character of mine - I love his attitude towards getting the job done, and his rebellious nature is very appealing. The chemistry between Reece, Jenkins, and the rest of the team make for an enjoyable read.
This is a thrilling addition to the Murder Squad series, and it left me eager for the next instalment.