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Kember and Hayes #2
A Silent Way to Die
Even in wartime, the deadliest threat can be terrifyingly close to home…
December 1940. With the Blitz devastating Britain’s cities, Lizzie Hayes and the women pilots of the Air Transport Authority are more crucial to the war effort than ever before. But when the relative peace of the village of Scotney is shattered by the disappearance of the Chief Inspector’s niece, it’s Lizzie’s training as a psychologist that draws her into another disturbing police case alongside DI Jonathan Kember.
Events threaten to overtake the pair when a local shepherdess is found murdered–and there’s something strange missing at the scene of the crime. As more bodies turn up, each bearing the same hallmark, Kember realises the campaign of terror will only escalate unless they can use Lizzie’s training to get into the killer’s mind.
With Kember’s superiors set against Lizzie’s involvement, he risks his reputation and his career–but it’s Lizzie who risks everything by putting her own life on the line in a desperate effort to unmask the murderer. With war raging around them, can they halt the killer before it’s too late?
11 hours and 31 minutes
December 1940. With the Blitz devastating Britain’s cities, Lizzie Hayes and the women pilots of the Air Transport Authority are more crucial to the war effort than ever before. But when the relative peace of the village of Scotney is shattered by the disappearance of the Chief Inspector’s niece, it’s Lizzie’s training as a psychologist that draws her into another disturbing police case alongside DI Jonathan Kember.
Events threaten to overtake the pair when a local shepherdess is found murdered–and there’s something strange missing at the scene of the crime. As more bodies turn up, each bearing the same hallmark, Kember realises the campaign of terror will only escalate unless they can use Lizzie’s training to get into the killer’s mind.
With Kember’s superiors set against Lizzie’s involvement, he risks his reputation and his career–but it’s Lizzie who risks everything by putting her own life on the line in a desperate effort to unmask the murderer. With war raging around them, can they halt the killer before it’s too late?
11 hours and 31 minutes
Audio CD
First published April 26, 2022
138 people are currently reading
2544 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
April 25, 2022
December 1940 Scotney Village. Two people have disappeared, one the niece of Chief Inspector Hartson, the other labourer Kenneth Jarvis. But that is not all that D.I. Jonathan Kemper has to deal with because a body of a female has been discovered, throat slashed and her hands missing. Kemper requests the help of Lizzy Haynes. Her interest is engaged as a friend of hers has recently died the same way.
An entertaining well-written, and well-plotted historical mystery with its cast of interesting and likeable characters. This is a good addition to the series which can easily be read as a standalone story.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
An entertaining well-written, and well-plotted historical mystery with its cast of interesting and likeable characters. This is a good addition to the series which can easily be read as a standalone story.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 24, 2022
A Silent Way to Die by N.R.Days
December 1940. With the Blitz devastating Britain’s cities, Lizzie Hayes and the women pilots of the Air Transport Authority are more crucial to the war effort than ever before. But when the relative peace of the village of Scotney is shattered by the disappearance of the Chief Inspector’s niece, it’s Lizzie’s training as a psychologist that draws her into another disturbing police case alongside DI Jonathan Kember.
Events threaten to overtake the pair when a local shepherdess is found murdered – and there’s something strange missing at the scene of the crime. As more bodies turn up, each bearing the same hallmark, Kember realises the campaign of terror will only escalate unless they can use Lizzie’s training to get into the killer’s mind.
I enjoyed this . I found the plot easy to follow and whilst not the edge of your seat suspense , it was a good story with enough interest to keep me reading.
I read it in a couple of sittings so it must have kept my interest !
Good solid characters and I enjoyed the way DI Jonathan Member set about solving the deaths.
December 1940. With the Blitz devastating Britain’s cities, Lizzie Hayes and the women pilots of the Air Transport Authority are more crucial to the war effort than ever before. But when the relative peace of the village of Scotney is shattered by the disappearance of the Chief Inspector’s niece, it’s Lizzie’s training as a psychologist that draws her into another disturbing police case alongside DI Jonathan Kember.
Events threaten to overtake the pair when a local shepherdess is found murdered – and there’s something strange missing at the scene of the crime. As more bodies turn up, each bearing the same hallmark, Kember realises the campaign of terror will only escalate unless they can use Lizzie’s training to get into the killer’s mind.
I enjoyed this . I found the plot easy to follow and whilst not the edge of your seat suspense , it was a good story with enough interest to keep me reading.
I read it in a couple of sittings so it must have kept my interest !
Good solid characters and I enjoyed the way DI Jonathan Member set about solving the deaths.
July 13, 2022
The story was great! I enjoyed all the twist and turns of the plot. The characters were great. The book is a fast pace book. The details and descriptions of events gave me a good visual of all the excitement within the book.
November 29, 2022
I can officially say that I am hooked on this series which is saying a lot because up until this series I have never liked historical anything. This historical crime book is packed with action to the hilt. Kimber and Hayes are back working together to solve another serial killer. In addition Kimber has other cases going on that coincide with the main story.
The story like the previous book takes place at a time when women were not allowed to do a lot of things and were thought to only be of use in the kitchen or barefoot and pregnant per se. I felt that the author did an incredible job of showing what women are capable of and was respectful in his portrayal of that.
The camaraderie between Hays, Kimber, and Wright really brings out a strong effect of relationships in this story. I appreciated that Geraldine was brought back and hope in future books more of the other women from book one are brought back so that we can see a growth through all of them and their friendship with Hays.
I felt that the authors writing in this book had grown tremendously from book 1. The writing was much more connected and smoother giving the overall story much more to dive into. I found myself completely connected and enthralled beyond what I was in the first book and found this one hard to put down from the first page to the last page.
The story like the previous book takes place at a time when women were not allowed to do a lot of things and were thought to only be of use in the kitchen or barefoot and pregnant per se. I felt that the author did an incredible job of showing what women are capable of and was respectful in his portrayal of that.
The camaraderie between Hays, Kimber, and Wright really brings out a strong effect of relationships in this story. I appreciated that Geraldine was brought back and hope in future books more of the other women from book one are brought back so that we can see a growth through all of them and their friendship with Hays.
I felt that the authors writing in this book had grown tremendously from book 1. The writing was much more connected and smoother giving the overall story much more to dive into. I found myself completely connected and enthralled beyond what I was in the first book and found this one hard to put down from the first page to the last page.
April 1, 2024
The story:
When a friend from Air Transport Auxiliary Third Officer Lizzie Hayes’ training days is murdered, and the body found with the hands removed, Lizzie fears it shows the hallmarks of a ‘serial murderer’. Having studied this particular type of crime during her PhD studies, she is keen to help uncover the murderer.
DI Jonathan Kember has his hands full himself, with a similar murder on his patch, along with two missing people — one of whom is the Chief Inspector’s niece. He is keen to work with Lizzie again, both for her unique insight on cases and because of their blossoming friendship. But with the powers that be in both the police and the airforce standing in their way, will Kember and Hayes be able to uncover a murderer before any more lives are lost?
My thoughts:
“A Silent Way to Die” is the second book in author NR Daws’ Kember and Hayes series, and takes place 5 months after the events of book one (“A Quiet Place to Kill”), in December 1940. Kember and Hayes seem to have seen little of each other since the resolution of the so-called Scotney Ripper case, but are brought together again when Lizzie learns of a friend’s murder, and a similar death occurs in Scotney.
As with the first and third book in this series (I read book three “A Perfect Time to Murder” first, before going back to catch up on books one and two!), both Kember and Hayes’ superior officers are extremely dismissive of Lizzie’s skills in psychologically profiling the killer, calling her a crank and a psychic… Kember’s boss Chief Inspector Hartson is particularly unpleasant, although he is himself feeling the strain of his own niece being missing.
Once again, I really enjoyed this partnership, and the pair seem to have developed more trust in each other’s skills since book one. This story is set around Christmas time, and the potential pool of suspects — encompassing the airbase of RAF Scotney and the local village — is expanded by a group from ENSA (the Entertainments National Service Association) visiting Scotney to provide entertainment for the troops in the form of a Christmas pantomime. When more murders with the same hallmarks are uncovered near other airbases in the south-east, suspicion falls on the travelling entertainers. But which of them could it be?
The author did a good job of surprising me with the solution to this mystery, and it was another very enjoyable instalment in this wartime murder mystery series. The author has a new book outside this series due out next year, this time a cosy mystery set in Hampton Court Palace, which I look forward to reading — although I hope we also hear more from Kember and Hayes in the future!
When a friend from Air Transport Auxiliary Third Officer Lizzie Hayes’ training days is murdered, and the body found with the hands removed, Lizzie fears it shows the hallmarks of a ‘serial murderer’. Having studied this particular type of crime during her PhD studies, she is keen to help uncover the murderer.
DI Jonathan Kember has his hands full himself, with a similar murder on his patch, along with two missing people — one of whom is the Chief Inspector’s niece. He is keen to work with Lizzie again, both for her unique insight on cases and because of their blossoming friendship. But with the powers that be in both the police and the airforce standing in their way, will Kember and Hayes be able to uncover a murderer before any more lives are lost?
My thoughts:
“A Silent Way to Die” is the second book in author NR Daws’ Kember and Hayes series, and takes place 5 months after the events of book one (“A Quiet Place to Kill”), in December 1940. Kember and Hayes seem to have seen little of each other since the resolution of the so-called Scotney Ripper case, but are brought together again when Lizzie learns of a friend’s murder, and a similar death occurs in Scotney.
As with the first and third book in this series (I read book three “A Perfect Time to Murder” first, before going back to catch up on books one and two!), both Kember and Hayes’ superior officers are extremely dismissive of Lizzie’s skills in psychologically profiling the killer, calling her a crank and a psychic… Kember’s boss Chief Inspector Hartson is particularly unpleasant, although he is himself feeling the strain of his own niece being missing.
Once again, I really enjoyed this partnership, and the pair seem to have developed more trust in each other’s skills since book one. This story is set around Christmas time, and the potential pool of suspects — encompassing the airbase of RAF Scotney and the local village — is expanded by a group from ENSA (the Entertainments National Service Association) visiting Scotney to provide entertainment for the troops in the form of a Christmas pantomime. When more murders with the same hallmarks are uncovered near other airbases in the south-east, suspicion falls on the travelling entertainers. But which of them could it be?
The author did a good job of surprising me with the solution to this mystery, and it was another very enjoyable instalment in this wartime murder mystery series. The author has a new book outside this series due out next year, this time a cosy mystery set in Hampton Court Palace, which I look forward to reading — although I hope we also hear more from Kember and Hayes in the future!
May 10, 2022
This is the second book in the series and although it reads fine as a standalone, I think I would have benefitted from having read the first one. I like the combination of Kember and Hayes! And I would have liked to have figured out how they came to be working together.
Lizzie Hayes is a pilot ferrying planes during WWII in the UK. This is a time when there are not many female pilots around and their presence on base was not exactly welcomed by the higher ups. The prevailing attitude is that they should be at home, looking after their menfolk. Lizzie is a bit unusual in another way too. She has a psychology degree and she also has a special "feel" for crime scenes & people, which benefits DI Kember when he has curly issues in a case. However, HIS higher ups are not exactly thrilled by her involvement in any of his cases, so she has to tread very softly indeed, if she is going to be of use.
DI Kember has the most perplexing case to solve and it will take all of his wits and experience, as well as that of Lizzie, to figure out what the facts are telling them.
Intriguing book, set at an interesting time. The author has a way of storytelling that really sets the scene.
4 stars from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK.
Lizzie Hayes is a pilot ferrying planes during WWII in the UK. This is a time when there are not many female pilots around and their presence on base was not exactly welcomed by the higher ups. The prevailing attitude is that they should be at home, looking after their menfolk. Lizzie is a bit unusual in another way too. She has a psychology degree and she also has a special "feel" for crime scenes & people, which benefits DI Kember when he has curly issues in a case. However, HIS higher ups are not exactly thrilled by her involvement in any of his cases, so she has to tread very softly indeed, if she is going to be of use.
DI Kember has the most perplexing case to solve and it will take all of his wits and experience, as well as that of Lizzie, to figure out what the facts are telling them.
Intriguing book, set at an interesting time. The author has a way of storytelling that really sets the scene.
4 stars from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK.
April 30, 2022
A silent way to die by N R Daws.
A Kember and Hayes Mystery Book 2.
December 1940. With the Blitz devastating Britain’s cities, Lizzie Hayes and the women pilots of the Air Transport Authority are more crucial to the war effort than ever before. But when the relative peace of the village of Scotney is shattered by the disappearance of the Chief Inspector’s niece, it’s Lizzie’s training as a psychologist that draws her into another disturbing police case alongside DI Jonathan Kember.
A good read with good characters. Likeable story. 3*.
A Kember and Hayes Mystery Book 2.
December 1940. With the Blitz devastating Britain’s cities, Lizzie Hayes and the women pilots of the Air Transport Authority are more crucial to the war effort than ever before. But when the relative peace of the village of Scotney is shattered by the disappearance of the Chief Inspector’s niece, it’s Lizzie’s training as a psychologist that draws her into another disturbing police case alongside DI Jonathan Kember.
A good read with good characters. Likeable story. 3*.
May 7, 2022
This book gripping my attention since the prologue. Set in WWII Britain, the war background added extra thrilling effect of how the investigation will happen. I love the good mystery and this one is interesting enough to keep me till the end. The main character is unique and written well. I love the plot and twist. This book is part of series, but still easy enough to read as standalone.
Thank you Netgalley for my copy.
Thank you Netgalley for my copy.
June 19, 2022
This is certainly better than the first book. Well researched and a good puzzle with a surprising solution. The characters are well drawn and there is growth from their appearance in A Quiet Place. There is one major plotting issue - if you accidentally read this book first you will know from very early on who the killer is in the first book - keeping a setting is one thing - keeping on all your red herrings from book one simply doesn’t work in my opinion
March 30, 2023
The reader is cloaked in the 1940’s, within a peaceful village in Britain. But it’s not as peaceful as it seems! Book #2 of this series, yields a sharply defined plot, loaded with research based proceedings, endearing characters, and brilliant dialogue. N. R. Daws keeps his reader fully engaged at all times with his logic of events and his well-crafted phrases. An enticing read as well as an impressive audio. A highly recommended series.
April 29, 2022
An intriguing and entertaining historical mystery that I thoroughly enjoyed.
The mystery is solid and kept me guessing, the characters are fleshed out, and the historical background is vivid.
It's the first I read in this series and won't surely be the last.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
The mystery is solid and kept me guessing, the characters are fleshed out, and the historical background is vivid.
It's the first I read in this series and won't surely be the last.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
June 6, 2022
This is the second novel in the Kember and Hayes series, I read this as a standalone but feel that to fully grasp the story I need to read the first novel! It was a great read and I love the historical aspect which I do not generally read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 6, 2025
2nd of these 1940s crime novels which despite the darkness of war and crime are compelling. Back with Lizzie Hayes and the ATA in Scotney and Jonathon Kember of Scotland Yard, the disappearance of 2 people and the murder of a local woman draw them together again despite the opposition of both their superiors.
May 18, 2022
A good solid WW2 crime story.
I enjoyed this as it was a mixture of 2 of my favourite genres!
It worked well, the audiobook was narrated well.
The story was quite dark and grisly too.
Will definitely look out for more of this author 😀
I enjoyed this as it was a mixture of 2 of my favourite genres!
It worked well, the audiobook was narrated well.
The story was quite dark and grisly too.
Will definitely look out for more of this author 😀
July 9, 2022
A nice follow up from the first book, think you definitely benefit from reading the first book before this as it does hint back to events from it which make more sense if you’ve read it. A nice easy read and enjoyable to try to work out ‘who done it’ before the detective gets there.
January 15, 2024
Oh I do like these books. There's a decent uncomplicated plot and a nice sideline story as the male and female leads get closer together during WWII. Interesting mix a female pilot and a Scotland Yard DI. Just got book 3 so I must love this easy yet very enjoyable read !
March 20, 2025
Scarily fascinating
A detective and a wow man pilot both working on discovering a murderer seems in the face of it a strange combination but this works so well. The tension builds until all falls into place with a very tense ending.
A detective and a wow man pilot both working on discovering a murderer seems in the face of it a strange combination but this works so well. The tension builds until all falls into place with a very tense ending.
April 28, 2022
loved it
Again a fantastic book, my favourites are always the ones I don’t guess the killer. Enjoyed the amount of research put into writing this cannot wait for the next
Again a fantastic book, my favourites are always the ones I don’t guess the killer. Enjoyed the amount of research put into writing this cannot wait for the next
April 29, 2022
A slowburner mystery that is intriguing and engaging the whole way through. It is twisty and unpredictable and kept me guessing. An enjoyable read.
May 2, 2022
There were times when the story dragged a bit. The historical perspective was very interesting and informative. All in all it was a good read.
June 16, 2022
I won this Kindle edition book in A Goodreads
Giveaway. Thank you to everyone involved.
Great mystery.
Giveaway. Thank you to everyone involved.
Great mystery.
July 3, 2022
Dull, confusing --- abandoned ---- could not read one more page
August 4, 2022
Page Turner
Definitely keeps you interested from cover to cover. Real life elements (disorders) are a plus in this history based novel.
Definitely keeps you interested from cover to cover. Real life elements (disorders) are a plus in this history based novel.
January 15, 2023
Awesome. WW2 setting and murders..
February 18, 2023
another good read
Have now read books 1 and 2 and thoroughly enjoyed both. Would highly recommend this author and look forward to the next in the series
Have now read books 1 and 2 and thoroughly enjoyed both. Would highly recommend this author and look forward to the next in the series
April 9, 2023
A Silent Way to Die
Another excellent story in the Kember and Hayes cases. Captures the feel of the times it is set. Good book.
Another excellent story in the Kember and Hayes cases. Captures the feel of the times it is set. Good book.
September 22, 2022
Loved this book. The characters are believable and the plot is well done. The author brings to life the years of war time England and the hardships of leading a "normal" life.
September 22, 2022
A Silent Way to Die is the first book by N R Daws that I have read. Set in WWII Britain, the background of the war added to the suspense and gave the investigation perimeters around which the murderer had to work. I found the mystery intriguing and well out of the ordinary. The characters were well drawn with quirks which made them more human. In reading the book I was surprised several times by the twists and turns of the plot. I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews