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DI Alex Peachey #1

What Goes Around

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Vicky Wilson is dating Ray Diamond, legendary stripper and renowned bad boy. She goes backstage to see him during a show with friends and disappears.

When a woman’s body is found behind the club, DI Alex Peachey and his team are called in to find out who killed Vicky. But with his home life in turmoil, delving into the adult entertainment industry is the last thing he needs, especially with a case as complex as a spider's web. But due to his colleague’s sudden illness he doesn't have a choice.

Ray Diamond claims he’s being framed. His complete disregard for others means there are a lot of people who would love to see him fall from his pedestal. The question is, does anyone hate him enough to push him? And will DI Peachey be able to prove him culpable of murder before he strikes again?

344 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 12, 2021

3 people are currently reading
35 people want to read

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Ann Bloxwich

8 books8 followers

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5 stars
24 (46%)
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21 (40%)
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7 (13%)
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
Profile Image for Linda Strong.
3,878 reviews1,711 followers
July 12, 2021
Becky and a couple of her friends are at a club to watch the male strippers. Becky is dating one of them .... Ray Diamond. A well-known bad boy, her friends try to dissuade her from continuing her from chasing after him, but nothing seems to work. She gets up and runs backstage to see him after his act .... and disappears.

DI Alex Peachley and his team are called to investigate when a woman's body is found behind the club. One of Becky's fiends identify her body.

Prime suspect is Ray Diamond ... although he claims he's being framed. Considering how he treats everyone around him, it's no stretch of the imagination to know that there are many others who would love to see him take a fall.

But then there's a major twist and all of a sudden, it's a whole new ballgame.

Well written, jam packed full of action, suspenseful from start to finish, this was a hard one to put down for any length of time. The characters are deftly drawn, some likeable, others not so much. I especially liked how Peachley's professional life blended with the personal in that he and his wife have a disabled son who have an anger issue. According to my research of the author, she has personal knowledge of this and it has brought a certain level of credibility to her story-telling. There are several twists and turns that demand attention. This is the first in what looks like a riveting series.

Many thanks to the author / Dark Edge Press for the digital copy of this British Crime Fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Profile Image for Sarah Faichney.
882 reviews29 followers
July 13, 2021
Ann Bloxwich has come flying out of the gate with this brilliant debut. "What Goes Around" is the first book in the forthcoming DI Alex Peachey series. The characters are bold, brash and beautifully outspoken - and not just the ones in the adult entertainment business! The plot is packed with drama, humour and murder investigation. What makes this book really stand out is the way in which Bloxwich draws on personal experience to illustrate the complexities of supporting a disabled child, particularly where there is a tendency towards violence. I thoroughly enjoyed "What Goes Around", so much so that it kept me reading till after 4am! I feel invested in DI Peachey, his team and his family and am very much looking forward to the next instalment.
Profile Image for Joe Singleton.
228 reviews8 followers
July 3, 2021
One of the great things I have found about UK crime fiction is that it gives author an opportunity to address social issues that never normally get addressed. We all know that things go on in our lives and in our communities but quite often we ignore them or just do not discuss them. In this book the author gives us a fly-on-the-wall book that discusses things like drag artists, male strippers and also dealing with child disabilities in the family environment.

Although initially I felt that the story was a slow burner and a little drawn-out I am so pleased that I stuck with as the action soon speeded up and the quick short-fire chapters (M.W. Craven style) really suited the concluding chapters.

The police procedural item were good and not over-complicated and the character progression must also be commended and I ended the book wishing that I could meet some of the characters in reality.

I am already excited for the next book as I can see great things for the characters in this series and hope that this sets the foundations for a brilliant writing career for the author.

This book is about gritty crime but the author deals with it well so do not let that put you off as there is not much gore or bad language and there are several messages within the book that the author wants to get across to us and, in my opinion, she does it well.

Many thanks to Dark Edge Press for providing me with an electronic advanced review copy of the book in return for a honest, unbiased review.
Profile Image for BookJunkie.
359 reviews12 followers
December 23, 2021
Firstly I would like to thank the publisher, Dark Edge Press for my copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book was an awesome ‘ who dun it ‘ and it certainly keeps you guessing until the end. Immediately I thought I knew who the killer was - yes, the easy option. The creep. But WOW!! How bloody wrong could I have been.

I mean the main character was a creep, but he was made out to be so much more than he really was. Still not a likeable character in the i love to hate this guy kind of way… and the character who you feel sorry for, who is a gem all the way through is the most vindictive person EVER. Shocker!!

My favourite character in this book. Has to be Alex, and yes I developed a wee bit of a man crush on him. He was a fair, but strong character - the boss, with far too much on his plate. It made me love him.

This was an incredible debut from the author. I think it is quite difficult to write a book that keeps the reader guessing, not knowing who the killer is. When they lead you to believe it’s one person, the obvious person you KNOW that it’s not, but usually you have an idea - not in this book.

But… not only does the author keep you guessing on who did it, she throws in so many twists and turns along the way it will leave you thinking WTF more than once.

Absolutely fantastic, I can not wait to read what is next.
Profile Image for Bookswithacuppa.
198 reviews26 followers
July 14, 2021
This was an incredibly gritty and evocative thriller, and I can’t believe this was a debut!

My goodness does Ann write fantastic (and some just downright vile) characters. There were quite a lot of characters, but I felt each one packed a credible punch towards the overall impact of this book. They were sharp, believe, and came alive on the page. I loved Alex’s relationship with his team, Kitty was just fabulous (what a tongue!) and my heart ached for Alex’s home situation.

Incredibly written, this thriller will take you for a wild ride through the murky world of strip acts, murder, and revenge. It’s dark, gritty, unapologetic and punchy. Ann is an author to watch out for in the future and I will be adding her future books straight to my TBR without hesitation!

A massive thank you to Anne at Random Things Tours for a gifted digital copy. My review is voluntary and thoughts entirely my own.
Profile Image for Nick Davies.
1,752 reviews62 followers
October 6, 2022
I enjoyed the familiarity with the Wolverhampton setting of this gritty police procedural, and thought also that the plot, involving strippers, drag queens, a woman going missing at a show, and a web of lies, was clever and kept me guessing. This was a fast-paced and readable novel, and certainly shows promise from a new author.

It wasn't all to my tastes, however. Personally I found the crudeness of almost all of the characters to be a bit much - I understand nasty characters need to be painted that way, but many of the 'normal' characters came over unlikeable in this fashion too, meaning I lost interest/empathy, and hence cared less about the story. There were also times where I felt appearances, clothes, vehicles etc. were over described and some of the character background strands felt unnecessary to me.
Profile Image for Surjit Parekh.
201 reviews14 followers
June 3, 2021
My thoughts about Ann Bloxwich’s smashing debut police procedural crime thriller What Goes Around, was breathtaking with its unique story and suspense and the ultimate ending, totally blows you away. Author Ann Bloxwich manages to pull you into the story that you will not want to put it down until the killers identity is revealed,which is spectacular and a real page turner. Ann Bloxwich introduces a detective Inspector who is not only brilliant but a fearless detective,who will not give up until he finds the real killer,which is incredible. Ann Bloxwich nails it with its breathtaking story and characters that truly deserves appreciation. The story of What Goes Around begins with Becky Wilson is dating Ray Diamond, legendary stripper and renowned bad boy. She goes backstage to see him during a show with friends and disappears.When a woman’s body is found behind the club, DI Alex Peachey and his team are called in to find out who killed Becky. But with his home life in turmoil, delving into the adult entertainment industry is the last thing he needs, especially with a case as complex as a spider’s web. But due to his colleague’s sudden illness he doesn’t have a choice.
Ray Diamond claims he’s being framed. His complete disregard for others means there are a lot of people who would love to see him fall from his pedestal. The question is, does anyone hate him enough to push him? And will DI Peachey be able to prove him culpable of murder before he strikes again which is brilliant. Author Ann Bloxwich is a gifted writer,and her debut is a real treat for those who love police procedural thrillers. What Goes Around is well written and well crafted thriller,that will blow you away with its amazing story and suspense,which is highly recommended. I would like to say thank you to Author Ann Bloxwich who I’ve been friends with more than 2 years on Twitter when she was a reviewer,and publishers Dark Edge Press, for kindly gifting me a copy, for me to read and review this spectacular thriller,that has been a privilege to read. I’ve enjoyed every moment of.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥💥💥💥💥💥
Profile Image for Lynda.
2,261 reviews122 followers
July 10, 2021
This is quite a hard hitting and dark police procedural/ thriller based around the adult entertainment industry. Well written and fast paced this is a book with lots going on to hold your attention.

Briefly, three women goes to see a male strip show. One of the women, Vicky, claims to be dating one of the strippers, Ray Diamond, an ageing stripper with a bad reputation and an even worse attitude. When Vicky goes missing he is on the police radar. DI Alex Peachy and his team are investigating. But Alex also has his own problem at home. His disabled son Joel is getting out of control and becoming both physically and verbally abusive. Can Alex find the murderer and deal with his personal issues?

There are plenty of twists and turns and red herrings in this to keep you guessing. There are some truly despicable characters in this book but also some truly beautiful people. The characterisations are spot on. I particularly felt an emotional connection with Alex and his family. Wanting to do everything they could to help their son but deep down knowing they needed help. Now for my score. I can honestly say that this was quite hard. I moved between 4 and 5 stars as I read through the book but I honestly feel this deserves this ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Profile Image for Alistair Birch.
Author 4 books8 followers
July 11, 2021
A fabulous debut

Ann Bloxwich may be a new author, though she is definitely one to watch for the future. What Goes Around delves into a murky world of strip acts where murder, threats and rivalry lurk. This book is well written, with characters readers will both like and loathe. Great job. I'm looking forward to book 2 in the DI Alex peachey series.
92 reviews3 followers
August 4, 2021
Actually 3.5 stars

Decent for a relative novice; maybe should be tighter on the police procedural aspects? Would try the next in the series.
Profile Image for Maria.
835 reviews5 followers
July 15, 2021
This book has surprised me, I was going for a mystery case, where you have to catch a cold killer; but this book has a deeper core, where you’ll pity the victim and hope that the world sometimes is not so difficult.
The story starts like most of the mystery cases, there’s a victim and the police are investigating who is the possible victim and who could have killed her. Everything will point to a horrible man, Ray, who thinks that he is God and disrespects any human-being that is around him, woman or man.
It’s not difficult to hate Ray and think that he is the killer, every time he opens his mouth I would slap him, a person that I would not love to meet or have near me. Even the police suspects him, but they need a motive and some clues to relate him to the murder. But then things start getting dark and you start doubting that he is really the killer… Could it be that someone is trying to blame him? So many questions and the only way to discover the answer is to read the book!
The case is an important part of this book but there’s the glance of the lead investigator life and how DI Alex Peachey is having problems at home with his troubled son and his wife. I think this part of the story shows us how the detectives try to balance their working life with their personal life, it’s not easy and it will affect him, but that’s what makes this book real and see the police force in some fresh eyes.
This is a book easy to read and to enter to the story, short chapters and very well portrait characters that will keep you turning pages without noticing. I really hope this will not be the only case we’ll read from DI Alex Peachey, I loved them!
Are you ready for “What Goes Around”?
Profile Image for J Fearnley.
542 reviews
March 11, 2025
We enter the world of the drag queen when Becky Wilson goes missing after she has been backstage to see Ray Diamond who she has been dating. Ray has a reputation with regard to the women who follow his drag act. He’s quite the charmer. His reputation with his fellow drag artists isn’t quite so good.

When a woman’s body is discovered behind the club we are drawn into a complex case. Who is she? Will D I Peachy, called in from leave when a colleague is taken ill, be able to find out who she is and, crucially, who murdered her?

Not everything is as it initially seems as D I Peachy and the team follow various leads will they be able to catch the actual killer before they strike again?

This is a really good first book by Ann Bloxwich which brings a refreshing perspective to the crime fiction genre. With humour and a cast full of wonderful characters Bloxwich has written a story which is dark, funny and, as a result, is an absolute gem of a book.

I’m very much looking forward to the next.


Thanks: I received an eARC from the publisher as I subscribe to their newsletter. Since doing this (subscribing to the newsletter) I have received emails inviting me to read in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own and no payment has been received.
Profile Image for Hayley Speed-Kay.
55 reviews
September 18, 2021
Great start

Great start to a new series with likeable characters and good humour. Looking forward to more books in this series
Profile Image for Sandra.
Author 12 books33 followers
March 9, 2022
In 2017, at my first 'Crime & Publishment weekend, run by the excellent Graham Smith, I sat next to Ann Bloxwich and asked what she was writing. Her answer -'A murder taking place against a background of a group of male strippers, set in Wolverhampton-' had me immediately intrigued and I waited patiently through the submission, acceptance, editing and ebook stages in order to get my hands on a paperback. The book arrived Sunday lunchtime. I finished it, with a sigh of pleasure, and a round of applause, Tuesday teatime, having, for a few hours, inhabited an unknown-to-me, fast pace, sometimes dirty world, while enjoying the solving of several twisty crimes in the company of DI Alex Peachey and his team.
Obvious question: when is the next one due?
Profile Image for Oloruntosin Sofolahan.
15 reviews
November 24, 2025
Ann Bloxwich got me glued to my screen.
What a twist of events! A tale of revenge, narcissism and justice in this thriller series that focuses on Ray Diamond, a shady stripper who had stepped on toes on his way up and didn't care who he offended as long as he got his way, getting the dose of his own medicine.
I knew something was up with Mitchelle (Ray's assistant/housekeeper), but I could never have guessed.
It got me in my feelings, especially with Jayne and her son Joel, who was violent towards her despite all her efforts to please him. The cliffhanger of not knowing what happened to Jayne, if she survived and how Alex will react got me screaming, "GIVE ME THE SECOND PART, RIGHT NOW!"
Profile Image for Liora Ellington.
262 reviews23 followers
November 8, 2025
A gripping and gritty crime thriller, What Goes Around hooks you from the first page. When Vicky Wilson disappears after seeing her boyfriend, notorious stripper Ray Diamond, DI Alex Peachey finds himself unraveling a tangled web of lies, lust, and betrayal. Ann Bloxwich masterfully blends tension, realism, and emotion, creating a detective who’s both flawed and deeply human. The pacing is sharp, the twists unexpected, and the characters feel alive with secrets. Dark, intense, and expertly written, this debut delivers everything crime fiction fans crave. I couldn’t put it down an outstanding start to the DI Alex Peachey series.
1,064 reviews10 followers
May 18, 2025
Overall 4.5*
Great introductory story featuring DI Alex Peachy who has his own personal issues to deal with as he has a disabled son. Ann also introduces us to the world of drag with its camaraderie, bitchiness and everything in between. There are some characters that you won't like but do you give them any sympathy ? Probably not ! A great debut novel with topics tackled that you don't necessarily find in many other books. I look forward more from this author.
Profile Image for A.A. Chaudhuri.
Author 18 books173 followers
May 5, 2023
Recently finished this fantastic debut by the hugely talented Ann Bloxwich and it’s such a brilliant read! Beautifully written, with a gritty plot that’s packed with suspense and well-drawn fascinating characters, it kept me guessing to the last page. Looking forward to the follow-up!! An absolute must-read I highly recommend!!
Profile Image for Prashanth Bhat.
2,183 reviews140 followers
December 30, 2025
this is the first book in the series. when a body discovers all think that Raymond who is a stripper is the key suspect.. but he claims that he is framed. so what is the truth?

initially it went like a normal thriller. then the whole act is changed. it's like a punch in the gut.

race against time, full action packed. rug pull from feet moment. this novel is so entertaining.

loved it.
Profile Image for Kae.
13 reviews
January 12, 2026
What Goes Around is a compelling read that explores the consequences of choices and the way actions quietly circle back over time. The story blends emotion and realism, reminding readers that accountability, growth and self-awareness often arrive when least expected. Thought-provoking and engaging, it leaves a lasting impression about cause, effect and the power of personal change.
Profile Image for Jackie Hannaford.
103 reviews
August 15, 2022
A very good read with interesting and believable ending, set in recognisable Wolverhampton location.
Profile Image for Michael J..
Author 22 books185 followers
March 14, 2023
Not for the faint-hearted, and the prudish should move along - but if you like fast-paced crime fiction with heart and with something to say then this will be right up your street.
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