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Detective Annie Delamere #3
Bad Terms
Dark deeds in the Peak District refuse to stay buried…
When a skeleton is unearthed at a building site in the village of Meresham, the police immediately link the case to a notorious missing persons investigation. Jayne Arnold was sixteen when she disappeared in the long, hot summer of 1976, and has not been seen since.
Soon after the bones are found, a tragic accident occurs at an elite boarding school nearby. The young victim fell to her death from the roof of a building. Digging into the girl’s background links her to an attempted expose of donations from unsavoury individuals. When further deaths follow, does it suggest a cover up is underway? Who stood to lose most from the truth coming out? And how do recent crimes link to events from more than 45 years ago? DI Annie Delamere and her team are tasked to answer these questions, but her own mother may stand between Annie and the truth.
When a skeleton is unearthed at a building site in the village of Meresham, the police immediately link the case to a notorious missing persons investigation. Jayne Arnold was sixteen when she disappeared in the long, hot summer of 1976, and has not been seen since.
Soon after the bones are found, a tragic accident occurs at an elite boarding school nearby. The young victim fell to her death from the roof of a building. Digging into the girl’s background links her to an attempted expose of donations from unsavoury individuals. When further deaths follow, does it suggest a cover up is underway? Who stood to lose most from the truth coming out? And how do recent crimes link to events from more than 45 years ago? DI Annie Delamere and her team are tasked to answer these questions, but her own mother may stand between Annie and the truth.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 24, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
July 7, 2023
It is important to note that the majority of the themes explored in this book deal with sensitive subject matters. My review, therefore, touches on these topics as well. Many people might find the subject matters of the book as well as those detailed in my review overwhelming. I would suggest you steer clear of both if this is the case. Please note that from this point forward I will be writing about matters which contain reflections on child abuse, hebephilia, sexual assault of minors, & others.
In this third instalment of the Detective Annie Delamere series, the reader is introduced to what appears to be a reoccurring cast of characters & though I have not read the other two (2) books in this series, I did not find myself having much trouble diving head-first into this book. I will advise that had I read the first two books I most certainly would have been able to appreciate the characters more wholeheartedly. Regardless of that, Walters seamlessly reveals the characters in their full forms within this story so that if you, like myself, chose this book on a whim for its enticing synopsis, you would not be left in the cold, wondering about the unknowns within the plot.
That being said, this book revolves around a multitude of characters. If you are not in the mindset to read at length about main characters & their counterparts; chapters that begin with annoying tertiary characters whom you might wish to graze over, then perhaps hold off on reading this story until such a time as you can give it its due diligence. That is not to say that should you dislike a character you are bound to dislike a story. However, in this instalment, Annie’s mother (whose name I want to say is Margaret, but who so thoroughly annoyed me I cannot rightfully remember), plays a very large role in the crime, & the author grants her ‘screen time’ to allow the reader to appreciate her fully for what she is; a narcissistic bully who would rather have seen a young girl brutally abused while unconscious than admit that she is the villain in this story.
Overall, this book was extremely well written. There is an array of characters that did not take away from the distinct voices & perspectives they held over the premise & dialogues which moved the plot forward. There are multiple people who have their toes dipped into the crime at play & all those distinguished, professionals are of importance to the advancement of the conclusion, though it might sometimes seem tedious to have to wait until the end, to get to the part where the beginning of the book is revealed to those who have worked through the body, nearing the end.
By this I mean, Walters reveals the antagonists to the reader in the opening pages of the book. What we were waiting for was confirmation that the people who beat this poor child to a pulp did in fact either leave her for dead or lugged her unconscious body into a nearby pit,…& for what? Because Margaret (or whatever her name is) was a total piece of shit? You beat someone up because you’re a lousy person? How absurdly pathetic. I emphasize my feelings here within the introductory reveal because when the book nears its end, one of the main antagonists does not see justice prevail. They continue living their lives with the state of mind that they held throughout the previous decades until such a time as they are called to court, & it is absurdly saddening to read about.
I would wager to say that there is never any rhyme or reason why someone is bullied. Many, if not all, of us, have experienced it in some form or another. However, what sets this story apart is that the group of girls who sought out Jayne during her walk home left her with men whom they knew to be child abusers. We can say that only one of these people held more knowledge than the others but, kids are not dumb; young people do pick up on the rotten core of people like the villains in this story. The fate that befell this poor child is truly sickening.
This leads me to wonder how I might review a book that did a stellar job of leaving an overall lingering horror in my mind. It’s horrific to know that Jayne was simply trying to make her way home, that she was simply trying to make it through an existence that saw her become the victim of taunting & torment. That she lay in an in-between state of consciousness while this group of girls walked off the property & left her with actual monsters, is something I cannot stop going over in my mind.
I’m sure you’ve read stories in which you wish you could step into the pages & swipe the character out of harm's way because no one on this green earth deserves what you know befalls this person. How horrible it is to have to break in between a read to audibly swear out of frustration because there is nothing that can be done to prevent what is to happen. Then, how dirty & filthy this book does highlight the real world as being because as much as it is devastating to read about this fictional world, these things happen to those in the non-fiction realm as well. I suppose that is the marker of success behind a good writer. They ensure you are secure in this universe, wherein a make-believe story ensues only for you to seek shelter in a world where you know there is no foresight to escape some of the nightmarish things that were written.
I would read some of Walters' other books because his writing was truly encapsulating & his characters were indeed full-fleshed-out beings living actively in the world in which this story took place. This book might benefit from not having the beginning revealed in such a way as to render me feeling a bit restless for the antagonists to be revealed. I also found some of the chapters a bit long; the background information about the main child abuser was a bit excessive in my opinion but, others might not find it so & overall, it did add to the story (i.e. it wasn’t some left-field information that would never be spoken of again). Unfortunately, due to many of the chapters feeling excessively long & my desire to get to the final reveal hampered by the return to various perspectives & multiple investigations, I was left with a bit of a less enthused opinion overall.
This is a good book; it’s sad & it’s disturbing & filled with disgusting characters. But, it’s honest & eloquent in its crafting of a tale of unsuspecting victims who await final repose in a world that is filled with monsters behind every turn.
Thank you to NetGalley, Canelo Publishing, & Alex Walters for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
In this third instalment of the Detective Annie Delamere series, the reader is introduced to what appears to be a reoccurring cast of characters & though I have not read the other two (2) books in this series, I did not find myself having much trouble diving head-first into this book. I will advise that had I read the first two books I most certainly would have been able to appreciate the characters more wholeheartedly. Regardless of that, Walters seamlessly reveals the characters in their full forms within this story so that if you, like myself, chose this book on a whim for its enticing synopsis, you would not be left in the cold, wondering about the unknowns within the plot.
That being said, this book revolves around a multitude of characters. If you are not in the mindset to read at length about main characters & their counterparts; chapters that begin with annoying tertiary characters whom you might wish to graze over, then perhaps hold off on reading this story until such a time as you can give it its due diligence. That is not to say that should you dislike a character you are bound to dislike a story. However, in this instalment, Annie’s mother (whose name I want to say is Margaret, but who so thoroughly annoyed me I cannot rightfully remember), plays a very large role in the crime, & the author grants her ‘screen time’ to allow the reader to appreciate her fully for what she is; a narcissistic bully who would rather have seen a young girl brutally abused while unconscious than admit that she is the villain in this story.
Overall, this book was extremely well written. There is an array of characters that did not take away from the distinct voices & perspectives they held over the premise & dialogues which moved the plot forward. There are multiple people who have their toes dipped into the crime at play & all those distinguished, professionals are of importance to the advancement of the conclusion, though it might sometimes seem tedious to have to wait until the end, to get to the part where the beginning of the book is revealed to those who have worked through the body, nearing the end.
By this I mean, Walters reveals the antagonists to the reader in the opening pages of the book. What we were waiting for was confirmation that the people who beat this poor child to a pulp did in fact either leave her for dead or lugged her unconscious body into a nearby pit,…& for what? Because Margaret (or whatever her name is) was a total piece of shit? You beat someone up because you’re a lousy person? How absurdly pathetic. I emphasize my feelings here within the introductory reveal because when the book nears its end, one of the main antagonists does not see justice prevail. They continue living their lives with the state of mind that they held throughout the previous decades until such a time as they are called to court, & it is absurdly saddening to read about.
I would wager to say that there is never any rhyme or reason why someone is bullied. Many, if not all, of us, have experienced it in some form or another. However, what sets this story apart is that the group of girls who sought out Jayne during her walk home left her with men whom they knew to be child abusers. We can say that only one of these people held more knowledge than the others but, kids are not dumb; young people do pick up on the rotten core of people like the villains in this story. The fate that befell this poor child is truly sickening.
This leads me to wonder how I might review a book that did a stellar job of leaving an overall lingering horror in my mind. It’s horrific to know that Jayne was simply trying to make her way home, that she was simply trying to make it through an existence that saw her become the victim of taunting & torment. That she lay in an in-between state of consciousness while this group of girls walked off the property & left her with actual monsters, is something I cannot stop going over in my mind.
I’m sure you’ve read stories in which you wish you could step into the pages & swipe the character out of harm's way because no one on this green earth deserves what you know befalls this person. How horrible it is to have to break in between a read to audibly swear out of frustration because there is nothing that can be done to prevent what is to happen. Then, how dirty & filthy this book does highlight the real world as being because as much as it is devastating to read about this fictional world, these things happen to those in the non-fiction realm as well. I suppose that is the marker of success behind a good writer. They ensure you are secure in this universe, wherein a make-believe story ensues only for you to seek shelter in a world where you know there is no foresight to escape some of the nightmarish things that were written.
I would read some of Walters' other books because his writing was truly encapsulating & his characters were indeed full-fleshed-out beings living actively in the world in which this story took place. This book might benefit from not having the beginning revealed in such a way as to render me feeling a bit restless for the antagonists to be revealed. I also found some of the chapters a bit long; the background information about the main child abuser was a bit excessive in my opinion but, others might not find it so & overall, it did add to the story (i.e. it wasn’t some left-field information that would never be spoken of again). Unfortunately, due to many of the chapters feeling excessively long & my desire to get to the final reveal hampered by the return to various perspectives & multiple investigations, I was left with a bit of a less enthused opinion overall.
This is a good book; it’s sad & it’s disturbing & filled with disgusting characters. But, it’s honest & eloquent in its crafting of a tale of unsuspecting victims who await final repose in a world that is filled with monsters behind every turn.
Thank you to NetGalley, Canelo Publishing, & Alex Walters for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 1, 2022
Skeletons very seldom stay buried. At sometime they get unearthed by accident invariably. In this small village when during a routine building excavation a skeleton is unearthed and DNA indicates that it is a school girl who went missing decades ago, the search starts for not just the murderer but the facts of the case and for the people who were integral to the investigation at the time. Not easy considering that neighbours, even the parents of the girl have moved away and have to be tracked down.
At the same time an accident at an elite school in the vicinity also becomes suspicious on further investigation and the Detectives on the case are being pushed to solve the present case rather than the older one. There are big names involved and finally one name comes up in both cases. Added to this is that there is always a reference to Detective Annie's mother who was herself a Chief Detective on the Force. Annie knows her mother's dealings were not always straight and she is worried what the investigations are going to throw up.
This was a bit complicated to unravel. The stories were different and you needed to be on the ball to follow it. It was nevertheless an interesting detective story.
At the same time an accident at an elite school in the vicinity also becomes suspicious on further investigation and the Detectives on the case are being pushed to solve the present case rather than the older one. There are big names involved and finally one name comes up in both cases. Added to this is that there is always a reference to Detective Annie's mother who was herself a Chief Detective on the Force. Annie knows her mother's dealings were not always straight and she is worried what the investigations are going to throw up.
This was a bit complicated to unravel. The stories were different and you needed to be on the ball to follow it. It was nevertheless an interesting detective story.
January 21, 2022
Mystery in Meresham England! This is book 3 in the DI Annie Delamere (and one of very many from detective series writer Alex Waters!)
In this edition, DI Delamere is called to investigate a 45+ yard old skeleton found in a construction site in a village.
At the same time, a tragic accident or suicide occurs at the elite women's boarding school nearby.
The crimes are linked, but it takes some work for Annie and her team to determine the how and why.
This is a smart, fast moving mystery with a great lead character. i haven't read this series but will be sure to start with #1. I do think that some previous information is needed to better understand some of the character relationships. I love any book that utilizes a boarding school setting and this book does not disappoint and includes the elite attitudes and back door politics of academia.
If you like British Mysteries you cannot go wrong with #BadTerm #Canelo #CaneloCrimes #NetGalley
In this edition, DI Delamere is called to investigate a 45+ yard old skeleton found in a construction site in a village.
At the same time, a tragic accident or suicide occurs at the elite women's boarding school nearby.
The crimes are linked, but it takes some work for Annie and her team to determine the how and why.
This is a smart, fast moving mystery with a great lead character. i haven't read this series but will be sure to start with #1. I do think that some previous information is needed to better understand some of the character relationships. I love any book that utilizes a boarding school setting and this book does not disappoint and includes the elite attitudes and back door politics of academia.
If you like British Mysteries you cannot go wrong with #BadTerm #Canelo #CaneloCrimes #NetGalley
January 21, 2022
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.
3.5* rounded up. A schoolgirl goes missing in 1976 and then in the present day another schoolgirl falls (or is pushed) off a roof. Then some bones are found in the foundations of a house which is being renovated, foundations which were laid in 1976...
I enjoyed this, although the plot took a while to come together, and there were extra layers of what happened to Jayne (the girl from 1976) which were not hinted at until the end, so it was handy that the murderer recounted them to the last victim. I have forgotten what happened to Zoe in the last book to make her so fragile in this one - I think the author should have explained or left that bit out. I enjoyed Annie's relationship with her boss, and I hope Andy will be a recurring character.
3.5* rounded up. A schoolgirl goes missing in 1976 and then in the present day another schoolgirl falls (or is pushed) off a roof. Then some bones are found in the foundations of a house which is being renovated, foundations which were laid in 1976...
I enjoyed this, although the plot took a while to come together, and there were extra layers of what happened to Jayne (the girl from 1976) which were not hinted at until the end, so it was handy that the murderer recounted them to the last victim. I have forgotten what happened to Zoe in the last book to make her so fragile in this one - I think the author should have explained or left that bit out. I enjoyed Annie's relationship with her boss, and I hope Andy will be a recurring character.
April 29, 2022
Does Melanie, from Lady Elizabeth Brennan School for Girls, look like she fell from the roof? Is it by accident or murder? DI Annie Delamere is going to investigate if the death of Melanie is connected to the school.
Thanks, Netgalley for this book.
Thanks, Netgalley for this book.
June 26, 2022
A.M.A,Z.I.N.G!
This has shot straight to the top list of all time favourite books this year!!! I absolutely LOVE a thriller set within a school especially a private school and this was no exception.
The setting was everything it needed to be. A big 'posh' elite school full of pretentious students and staff.
I didn't actually realise that this was book #3 in the Detective Annie Delamere series and in all honesty I don't think it impacted the read at all, it was definitely easy enough to read as a stand alone but obviously like any book series I would recommend reading all books in order for any backstory etc.
In this outstanding plot DI Delamere is tasked with investigating the case of a decades old skeleton found buried in a construction site in a local village of Meresham. At the same time as this case is underway a tragic accident/suicide happens at the local elite boarding school - Lady Elizabeth Brennan School for Girls.
Somehow these cases are linked and its DI Delamere's job to find that connection with the help of her brilliant team.
There are some dark themes woven throughout the storyline including child abuse, murder and bullying but each is relevant to the storyline and handled with sensitivity and written brilliantly.
I loved the writing style and it really evoked the feelings from each individual character. The novel is fast paced, punchy and full of twists and turns and I absolutely LOVE the way that the author is so direct with their writing, no words are wasted.
Twisty, multi layered and unputdownable... what more can you ask for?
Huge 5*
Huge thanks to netgalley and Canelo for the ARC.
This has shot straight to the top list of all time favourite books this year!!! I absolutely LOVE a thriller set within a school especially a private school and this was no exception.
The setting was everything it needed to be. A big 'posh' elite school full of pretentious students and staff.
I didn't actually realise that this was book #3 in the Detective Annie Delamere series and in all honesty I don't think it impacted the read at all, it was definitely easy enough to read as a stand alone but obviously like any book series I would recommend reading all books in order for any backstory etc.
In this outstanding plot DI Delamere is tasked with investigating the case of a decades old skeleton found buried in a construction site in a local village of Meresham. At the same time as this case is underway a tragic accident/suicide happens at the local elite boarding school - Lady Elizabeth Brennan School for Girls.
Somehow these cases are linked and its DI Delamere's job to find that connection with the help of her brilliant team.
There are some dark themes woven throughout the storyline including child abuse, murder and bullying but each is relevant to the storyline and handled with sensitivity and written brilliantly.
I loved the writing style and it really evoked the feelings from each individual character. The novel is fast paced, punchy and full of twists and turns and I absolutely LOVE the way that the author is so direct with their writing, no words are wasted.
Twisty, multi layered and unputdownable... what more can you ask for?
Huge 5*
Huge thanks to netgalley and Canelo for the ARC.
January 28, 2022
Building works at an old stone cottage in the village of Meresham uncover a skeleton. The police link the bones to an old cold case, that of Jayne Arnold, last seen in 1976 when she vanished at the age of sixteen. Thought to have been a runaway, no clues to her whereabouts, until now. It is up to the police to figure out what happened to her all that time ago.
Not too long after the bones are unearthed, a horrific accident takes place at an elite all girls boarding school nearby. One of the girls falls to her death. As DI Anni Delamere and her team start to investigate it soon becomes clear that it is not a simple accident, and neither a clear cut suicide. They uncover the girl's attempts at becoming an investigative reporter, and exposing a scheme of unsavoury donations to the exclusive school in the process. As the case ramps up, so do the deaths. DI Delamere are struggling to link the current crimes to that of one that occured over 45 years ago, but a link soon starts to emerge. Even more eerily, DI Delameres own mother may be tangled in the investigation.
This is the 3rd book in the DI Annie Delamere series. Having not read the first two, it worked well as a stand alone, yet did hint at some things that had happened previously. It was an interesting storyline, weaving between timeframes and points of view at various stages, to build up a picture of a real mystery to be solved. The detective work was realistic, and I was engaged from start to end. It was a very enjoyable read, and a series to keep an eye on for future books in.
Not too long after the bones are unearthed, a horrific accident takes place at an elite all girls boarding school nearby. One of the girls falls to her death. As DI Anni Delamere and her team start to investigate it soon becomes clear that it is not a simple accident, and neither a clear cut suicide. They uncover the girl's attempts at becoming an investigative reporter, and exposing a scheme of unsavoury donations to the exclusive school in the process. As the case ramps up, so do the deaths. DI Delamere are struggling to link the current crimes to that of one that occured over 45 years ago, but a link soon starts to emerge. Even more eerily, DI Delameres own mother may be tangled in the investigation.
This is the 3rd book in the DI Annie Delamere series. Having not read the first two, it worked well as a stand alone, yet did hint at some things that had happened previously. It was an interesting storyline, weaving between timeframes and points of view at various stages, to build up a picture of a real mystery to be solved. The detective work was realistic, and I was engaged from start to end. It was a very enjoyable read, and a series to keep an eye on for future books in.
February 22, 2022
*3 Stars!!
Bad Terms is the 3rd book in the Detective Annie Delamere series. In this instalment skeletal remains are found buried in a houses foundations by builders and the police are quick to link the remains with a teenage girls disappearance some 45 years ago. Soon after the discovery is made a girl at a private all girls boarding school is found dead and questions soon arise about whether her death was an accident or murder. As the cases go on another murder occurs and DI Annie Delamere begins to wonder if the murder of the school girl Jayne from 45 years ago has anything to do with the current events taking place.
I would like to point out that I haven't read the first two books in the series only this one. I did really like the story. I felt like Samantha's part in the book could have been expanded a bit more to add some drama in and maybe show flashbacks of her and Melanie I think that would have really added to the story a lot more and that would have had the potential to show how passionate Melanie was instead of us hearing it second hand from others. I liked how Annie and Zoe interacted with one another and really liked Andy so hopefully we'll see more of these characters in future books. I certainly didn't like Annie's mother and after everything she still lied to save her own hide but I am curious to see what happens with her in the next instalment.
* *Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo Publishers for a copy of this book in return for my honest review.*
Bad Terms is the 3rd book in the Detective Annie Delamere series. In this instalment skeletal remains are found buried in a houses foundations by builders and the police are quick to link the remains with a teenage girls disappearance some 45 years ago. Soon after the discovery is made a girl at a private all girls boarding school is found dead and questions soon arise about whether her death was an accident or murder. As the cases go on another murder occurs and DI Annie Delamere begins to wonder if the murder of the school girl Jayne from 45 years ago has anything to do with the current events taking place.
I would like to point out that I haven't read the first two books in the series only this one. I did really like the story. I felt like Samantha's part in the book could have been expanded a bit more to add some drama in and maybe show flashbacks of her and Melanie I think that would have really added to the story a lot more and that would have had the potential to show how passionate Melanie was instead of us hearing it second hand from others. I liked how Annie and Zoe interacted with one another and really liked Andy so hopefully we'll see more of these characters in future books. I certainly didn't like Annie's mother and after everything she still lied to save her own hide but I am curious to see what happens with her in the next instalment.
* *Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo Publishers for a copy of this book in return for my honest review.*
February 14, 2022
As usual in my reviews, I will not rehash the plot (there will be reviews like that out there already if that's what you are looking for!).
This is apparently the third book in the DI Annie Delamere series. I did not realise this when I chose this book, but to be honest it worked just fine as a standalone as there is plenty of background information about the recurring characters. That said, I now feel that I would like to read the earlier novels as well.
I enjoyed this novel, and stayed up late to finish it. There are some dark themes in this story - bullying, murder, and child abuse being the obvious ones, along with the sad themes of dementia and loneliness. The past comes back to haunt the present, and it's clear that someone is intent on righting past wrongs (the old adage "two wrongs don't make a right" sprang to mind several times though!).
The writing is excellent, and evokes the feelings of the characters and their various relationships very well. I liked the fact that it was set in the Peak District as I'm familiar with that area, which added realism to the story for me.
I will definitely read more by this author.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.
This is apparently the third book in the DI Annie Delamere series. I did not realise this when I chose this book, but to be honest it worked just fine as a standalone as there is plenty of background information about the recurring characters. That said, I now feel that I would like to read the earlier novels as well.
I enjoyed this novel, and stayed up late to finish it. There are some dark themes in this story - bullying, murder, and child abuse being the obvious ones, along with the sad themes of dementia and loneliness. The past comes back to haunt the present, and it's clear that someone is intent on righting past wrongs (the old adage "two wrongs don't make a right" sprang to mind several times though!).
The writing is excellent, and evokes the feelings of the characters and their various relationships very well. I liked the fact that it was set in the Peak District as I'm familiar with that area, which added realism to the story for me.
I will definitely read more by this author.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.
January 30, 2023
I really enjoyed this book as, right from the start, I found myself immersed in a world of suspense and intrigue. The plot was very well devised and, as it wound itself round in circles, I was totally involved in what was going on. The characters were beautifully created and were extremely believable and realistic. I like the way this author keeps us focused and engaged all the way through his novels. The story involves two cases – one a cold case from over 40 years ago, and the other an apparent accidental death that soon escalates into much more. Gradually, the two cases become intertwined, and the mystery darkens the more the police uncover.
Mr Walters takes us on a rollercoaster ride, with twists and turns at every chance and keeps the reader guessing right up until the very end. Even when I thought we had reached the pinnacle of this investigation and were close to learning the truth, I was totally gobsmacked when the killer was revealed.
I find that whatever this author writes, I cannot resist reading and find them extremely hard to put down. This current series is every bit as good as his previous ones and I look forward to reading more of Annie Delamere and her colleagues.
Mr Walters takes us on a rollercoaster ride, with twists and turns at every chance and keeps the reader guessing right up until the very end. Even when I thought we had reached the pinnacle of this investigation and were close to learning the truth, I was totally gobsmacked when the killer was revealed.
I find that whatever this author writes, I cannot resist reading and find them extremely hard to put down. This current series is every bit as good as his previous ones and I look forward to reading more of Annie Delamere and her colleagues.
February 28, 2022
In the hot summer of 1976 Jayne was bullied by girls from the local boarding school. No-one knew what had happened to her but now a body has been found whilst an extension was being built. At the same school Detective Annie Delamare's partner Sheena, is visiting to take part in a discussion group with a group of VIth formers when a body is discovered. It is one of the VIth form girls & it soon appears she didn't fall from a window. How come someone who was terrified of heights ended up coming off a roof. Annie's team look into both deaths. The investigation throws up a lot of questions & in finding the answers Annie finds that her retired, high up police officer, old girl mother might be more of a hindrance than a help!
How did I miss the first two in this series? This was a fantastic police procedural with interesting characters & a plot that keeps you guessing. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book. I may have missed the first two books but I'll definitely be looking out for book four
How did I miss the first two in this series? This was a fantastic police procedural with interesting characters & a plot that keeps you guessing. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book. I may have missed the first two books but I'll definitely be looking out for book four
May 23, 2022
I could not stay interested in this book at all. I will admit that I did not read the first two as I did not realize this was a series so that may have some part to it. This story follows a detective Annie as she investigates mysterious deaths that happened at a prestigious girls boarding school. While this happens another body was found from years ago while renovations were occurring on a near by building. We follow Annie as she tries to figure out what happened and how everything was related.
Like I said I just had a hard time following this book it felt like I was constantly wondering where and at what time I am following. I also just did t care much about the characters and this is my own fault as I feel like there was character development I missed from the first two books. I feel like this book would be something a lot of people would enjoy but personally I felt it was very similar to other thrillers that I have read and this one did not stand up to those. I would like to thank the publishers and NetGalley for a chance to read this book for an honest review.
Like I said I just had a hard time following this book it felt like I was constantly wondering where and at what time I am following. I also just did t care much about the characters and this is my own fault as I feel like there was character development I missed from the first two books. I feel like this book would be something a lot of people would enjoy but personally I felt it was very similar to other thrillers that I have read and this one did not stand up to those. I would like to thank the publishers and NetGalley for a chance to read this book for an honest review.
August 17, 2022
I will admit that this is an interesting read—even though I’m still not sure what happened or who did what. The story begins in 1976 with a group of teenage girls bullying, taunting, and eventually savagely kicking a teenager—whose bones are discovered some forty plus years later. This eventually leads to the death of Melanie, who dies at the hands of one of the original bullying girls in 1976. The story is well written, but there are so many characters involved—none of which are likeable or sympathetic—that I found the story difficult to follow. The detective who eventually sorts out the whole mess is Annie Delamere—her mother is one of the original bullies—and I wish the author had been more explicit in the ending so I could have “closure” I think Detective Delamere’s mother was the ringleader in the bullying and possibly the murderer of one of the other girls. Since this is Book #3, maybe the first and second books may provide more personal information on Detective Delamere. I do love reading books set in the Peak District so I’ll be reading a few more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 2, 2023
This is the third of the stories involving DI Annie Delamere.
A teenage student falls to her death at a girls' private school whilst Annie's partner, Sheena Pearson, is visiting to talk to some of the older girls about her political career. Annie investigates and discovers a culture of secrecy. Another death soon follows and there is also an historic case involving a missing girl from 46 years previously.
As events unfold, more deaths occur and Annie's mum Margaret could be in danger due to her connection with the school.
This was a tightly written and fast-moving story that kept me guessing throughout.
As ever, Alex Walters is adept at handling the procedural elements whilst moving events forward. We also find out more about Margaret in this story and how vulnerable she is despite the no-nonsense public image she seeks to cultivate.
This is proving to be an excellent series and I feel this is the best of the stories so far. I look forward to reading more.
A teenage student falls to her death at a girls' private school whilst Annie's partner, Sheena Pearson, is visiting to talk to some of the older girls about her political career. Annie investigates and discovers a culture of secrecy. Another death soon follows and there is also an historic case involving a missing girl from 46 years previously.
As events unfold, more deaths occur and Annie's mum Margaret could be in danger due to her connection with the school.
This was a tightly written and fast-moving story that kept me guessing throughout.
As ever, Alex Walters is adept at handling the procedural elements whilst moving events forward. We also find out more about Margaret in this story and how vulnerable she is despite the no-nonsense public image she seeks to cultivate.
This is proving to be an excellent series and I feel this is the best of the stories so far. I look forward to reading more.
January 30, 2022
I received an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review from. Netgalley.
Holy. Mother. Of. Pearl. This book was fantastic. The author is new to me, but I have already acquired some of his other works. His writing style is not overly rambling and gets to the point. Words are not wasted in this novel, but it was so fast paced and twisty and turny that I truly had no idea what was coming.
What started out as two investigations into the deaths of teenage girls 46 years apart weaves the tale of how sometimes you can't outrun the bad you've done, even when it seems like the world has forgotten.
The character of DI Annie is a wonderful protagonist, and I can't wait to see where her further adventures will take her and her colleagues Zoe and Andy.
Holy. Mother. Of. Pearl. This book was fantastic. The author is new to me, but I have already acquired some of his other works. His writing style is not overly rambling and gets to the point. Words are not wasted in this novel, but it was so fast paced and twisty and turny that I truly had no idea what was coming.
What started out as two investigations into the deaths of teenage girls 46 years apart weaves the tale of how sometimes you can't outrun the bad you've done, even when it seems like the world has forgotten.
The character of DI Annie is a wonderful protagonist, and I can't wait to see where her further adventures will take her and her colleagues Zoe and Andy.
July 28, 2023
A 46 year old skeleton is dug up during building work, a suspicious death at a boarding school and a couple of murders are all brought together in Walters inimitable style by DI Delamere and her team. As is usual the the investigation includes a personal connection to the investigation for a member of the team.
An enjoyable read and will help in enjoying the subsequent book in the series. However, I am uneasy about what us happening with DS Zoe Everett, I feel her character and her problems in this and earlier books are not being explained well enough. In book four even more information is presented but still doesn't explain what is going on with her.
I'm invested enough to read a book 5 but I do hope some of the personal threads for the team can be tied together by then.
An enjoyable read and will help in enjoying the subsequent book in the series. However, I am uneasy about what us happening with DS Zoe Everett, I feel her character and her problems in this and earlier books are not being explained well enough. In book four even more information is presented but still doesn't explain what is going on with her.
I'm invested enough to read a book 5 but I do hope some of the personal threads for the team can be tied together by then.
August 15, 2023
From the Goodreads Blurb: When a skeleton is unearthed at a building site in the village of Meresham, the police immediately link the case to a notorious missing persons investigation. Jayne Arnold was sixteen when she disappeared in the long, hot summer of 1976, and has not been seen since. Soon after the bones are found, a tragic accident occurs at an elite boarding school nearby. The young victim fell to her death from the roof of a building.
Very slow for the first third of the book. The "Zoe Problem" is ongoing... to the point of being a distraction. The thread regarding the "tragic accident" is not well resolved. The weather is grim and dark as are our villains.
This was book #33 on our 2023 Read-alouds With Lutrecia List and book #38 on our own 2023 Read-alouds List.
Very slow for the first third of the book. The "Zoe Problem" is ongoing... to the point of being a distraction. The thread regarding the "tragic accident" is not well resolved. The weather is grim and dark as are our villains.
This was book #33 on our 2023 Read-alouds With Lutrecia List and book #38 on our own 2023 Read-alouds List.
January 26, 2022
This is another good, steady read from Alex Walters in the Detective Annie Delamere series. The plot centres around a cold case involving a skeleton found from 46 years ago and a recent murder/suicide of a young teenager. The two seem to be linked as the team investigates further and another murder occurs. Is Annie's mother connected in some way? The plot took some time to bring together all the strands and the boarding school setting intrigued me. My interest was sustained until the end as I got to grips with the many different characters.. It's a decent read and an enjoyable one. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.
May 4, 2022
Following the finding of remains where a schoolgirl disappeared forty years ago, and the possible accidental death of a bright pupil at a nearby private school, Annie and her team are stretched. This great story gives us massive revelations about Annie’s mother, an early-retired high-up in the police force, now out to forge a TV career for herself. I really enjoyed this book, which appears to be the last in a short series, and I really hope Alex Walters intends to write more.
January 21, 2022
A police proceedural working on a cold case from forty years ago and a recent murder or was it suicide. There were a lot of characters that made it hard to follow and at times too many details that didn't move the story along but it was a decent read other than that
January 17, 2023
Another great story
Another great story by Alex Walters featuring Detective Annie Delamere and the others in her team. A lot of historical action which made the intertwined cases even more difficult to solve. Looking forward to reading more in the series.
Another great story by Alex Walters featuring Detective Annie Delamere and the others in her team. A lot of historical action which made the intertwined cases even more difficult to solve. Looking forward to reading more in the series.
March 6, 2022
The first two books in the series featuring this detective were meh-okay; readable but not memorable. This one is much more complex and rounded in handling the characters.
August 14, 2023
A very interesting plot, we are left with a lot of things in a tangle
June 29, 2024
RMStitanic12
What a great read,had me guessing in till the last few pages,let's have some !more from Detective Annie please.Well done
What a great read,had me guessing in till the last few pages,let's have some !more from Detective Annie please.Well done
July 16, 2025
Am never disappointed when reading a book by Alex Walters.
March 6, 2022
My thanks to NetGalley and publisher Canelo for the electronic copy.
I really liked this book; it has some good characters and believable dialogue making the writing flow and holding interest. This is #3 in the series with DI Annie Delamere and set in the Peak District.
Forty-six years ago 16yr-old Jayne Arnold is bullied by a group of girls whilst on her way home from school. She never made it home and she remains a missing persons case to the present day.
Now, builders excavating foundations for an extension to a house in the village of Meresham, uncover human remains in previously-dug foundations from the 1970s. Could this be the missing Jayne Arnold?
Annie's partner, Sheena is at the Lady Elizabeth Brennan School for Girls, awaiting to speak to some sixth-formers, when a commotion heralds the death of Melanie Donnelly; it looks like she fell from the roof - is it an accident, or murder? Melanie was a politics student and interested in journalism. As Annie and her team investigate they get to know that Melanie was writing an article about historical and present-day funding donations to the school - could she have uncovered something which led to her death?
When someone else connected to the school, and Annie's investigation into Melanie's death and the Meresham Bones enquiry, is found murdered, the team dig deeper into the past until they bring that past into the present.
Meanwhile, Margaret, Annie's mother, and retired Chief Superintendent, knows her past is catching up with her and only she can do something about it.
What's the connection between the school, the house where Jayne's remains were found, a series of murders and Annie's mother?
Well you'll just have to read it to find out!
I loved the characters in Annie's team and all their interactions. I really disliked Annie's mother - so selfish. My only criticism would be I felt the passages detailing poor Andy Metcalfe's trawl through old files and court records a little too lengthy.
Now I really want to know what happens next....please!
A really good read.
I really liked this book; it has some good characters and believable dialogue making the writing flow and holding interest. This is #3 in the series with DI Annie Delamere and set in the Peak District.
Forty-six years ago 16yr-old Jayne Arnold is bullied by a group of girls whilst on her way home from school. She never made it home and she remains a missing persons case to the present day.
Now, builders excavating foundations for an extension to a house in the village of Meresham, uncover human remains in previously-dug foundations from the 1970s. Could this be the missing Jayne Arnold?
Annie's partner, Sheena is at the Lady Elizabeth Brennan School for Girls, awaiting to speak to some sixth-formers, when a commotion heralds the death of Melanie Donnelly; it looks like she fell from the roof - is it an accident, or murder? Melanie was a politics student and interested in journalism. As Annie and her team investigate they get to know that Melanie was writing an article about historical and present-day funding donations to the school - could she have uncovered something which led to her death?
When someone else connected to the school, and Annie's investigation into Melanie's death and the Meresham Bones enquiry, is found murdered, the team dig deeper into the past until they bring that past into the present.
Meanwhile, Margaret, Annie's mother, and retired Chief Superintendent, knows her past is catching up with her and only she can do something about it.
What's the connection between the school, the house where Jayne's remains were found, a series of murders and Annie's mother?
Well you'll just have to read it to find out!
I loved the characters in Annie's team and all their interactions. I really disliked Annie's mother - so selfish. My only criticism would be I felt the passages detailing poor Andy Metcalfe's trawl through old files and court records a little too lengthy.
Now I really want to know what happens next....please!
A really good read.
February 24, 2022
Bad terms by Alex Walters.
Detective Annie Delamere Book 3.
When a skeleton is unearthed at a building site in the village of Meresham, the police immediately link the case to a notorious missing persons investigation. Jayne Arnold was sixteen when she disappeared in the long, hot summer of 1976, and has not been seen since.Soon after the bones are found, a tragic accident occurs at an elite boarding school nearby. The young victim fell to her death from the roof of a building. Digging into the girl’s background links her to an attempted expose of donations from unsavoury individuals. When further deaths follow, does it suggest a cover up is underway? Who stood to lose most from the truth coming out? And how do recent crimes link to events from more than 45 years ago? DI Annie Delamere and her team are tasked to answer these questions, but her own mother may stand between Annie and the truth
A very good read with good characters. I did like Annie's character. 4*.
Merged review:
Bad terms by Alex Walters.
Detective Annie Delamere Book 3.
When a skeleton is unearthed at a building site in the village of Meresham, the police immediately link the case to a notorious missing persons investigation. Jayne Arnold was sixteen when she disappeared in the long, hot summer of 1976, and has not been seen since.Soon after the bones are found, a tragic accident occurs at an elite boarding school nearby. The young victim fell to her death from the roof of a building. Digging into the girl’s background links her to an attempted expose of donations from unsavoury individuals. When further deaths follow, does it suggest a cover up is underway? Who stood to lose most from the truth coming out? And how do recent crimes link to events from more than 45 years ago? DI Annie Delamere and her team are tasked to answer these questions, but her own mother may stand between Annie and the truth
A very good read with good characters. I did like Annie's character. 4*.
Detective Annie Delamere Book 3.
When a skeleton is unearthed at a building site in the village of Meresham, the police immediately link the case to a notorious missing persons investigation. Jayne Arnold was sixteen when she disappeared in the long, hot summer of 1976, and has not been seen since.Soon after the bones are found, a tragic accident occurs at an elite boarding school nearby. The young victim fell to her death from the roof of a building. Digging into the girl’s background links her to an attempted expose of donations from unsavoury individuals. When further deaths follow, does it suggest a cover up is underway? Who stood to lose most from the truth coming out? And how do recent crimes link to events from more than 45 years ago? DI Annie Delamere and her team are tasked to answer these questions, but her own mother may stand between Annie and the truth
A very good read with good characters. I did like Annie's character. 4*.
Merged review:
Bad terms by Alex Walters.
Detective Annie Delamere Book 3.
When a skeleton is unearthed at a building site in the village of Meresham, the police immediately link the case to a notorious missing persons investigation. Jayne Arnold was sixteen when she disappeared in the long, hot summer of 1976, and has not been seen since.Soon after the bones are found, a tragic accident occurs at an elite boarding school nearby. The young victim fell to her death from the roof of a building. Digging into the girl’s background links her to an attempted expose of donations from unsavoury individuals. When further deaths follow, does it suggest a cover up is underway? Who stood to lose most from the truth coming out? And how do recent crimes link to events from more than 45 years ago? DI Annie Delamere and her team are tasked to answer these questions, but her own mother may stand between Annie and the truth
A very good read with good characters. I did like Annie's character. 4*.
December 16, 2022
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
Bad Terms is the third Annie Delamere police procedural by Alex Walters. Released 24th Feb 2022 by Canelo, it's 304 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
This series had managed to fly under my radar for until this, the third book. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of writing and plotting, and definitely will be on the lookout for future releases from this talented author. The story here is quite intricate and I needed to flip back in the book a couple times to check earlier developments; definitely a read which requires the reader's attention. It was slightly hampered for me as well, because I was reading it as a standalone. The main protagonist's mother was in the detective corps as an AC, and not always inside the boundaries, and that figures in this story as well. Although not strictly necessary, I would recommend picking up the earlier books in the series for the backstory.
Although not at all derivative, in a lot of good ways, this style of this book reminded me of McGown's excellent Lloyd & Hill procedurals, with a dash of Booth's Cooper & Fry books. There are currently 3 books available in this series, making it a good candidate for a weekend binge read.
Four stars. Definitely one for fans of British procedurals.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Bad Terms is the third Annie Delamere police procedural by Alex Walters. Released 24th Feb 2022 by Canelo, it's 304 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
This series had managed to fly under my radar for until this, the third book. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of writing and plotting, and definitely will be on the lookout for future releases from this talented author. The story here is quite intricate and I needed to flip back in the book a couple times to check earlier developments; definitely a read which requires the reader's attention. It was slightly hampered for me as well, because I was reading it as a standalone. The main protagonist's mother was in the detective corps as an AC, and not always inside the boundaries, and that figures in this story as well. Although not strictly necessary, I would recommend picking up the earlier books in the series for the backstory.
Although not at all derivative, in a lot of good ways, this style of this book reminded me of McGown's excellent Lloyd & Hill procedurals, with a dash of Booth's Cooper & Fry books. There are currently 3 books available in this series, making it a good candidate for a weekend binge read.
Four stars. Definitely one for fans of British procedurals.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
January 28, 2022
Jayne is walking back from school when she goes missing. 46 years later a body is discovered while renovating an old farm house. At the same time a girl at nearby boarding school dies for a suspicious fall. DI Annie Delamere leads both enquiries and soon the body count starts to rise, there is more to these cases than first thought.
A good plot with a twist that was quite predictable. An easy read and would happily recommend to any crime fiction fan.
Merged review:
Jayne is walking back from school when she goes missing. 46 years later a body is discovered while renovating an old farm house. At the same time a girl at nearby boarding school dies for a suspicious fall. DI Annie Delamere leads both enquiries and soon the body count starts to rise, there is more to these cases than first thought.
A good plot with a twist that was quite predictable. An easy read and would happily recommend to any crime fiction fan.
A good plot with a twist that was quite predictable. An easy read and would happily recommend to any crime fiction fan.
Merged review:
Jayne is walking back from school when she goes missing. 46 years later a body is discovered while renovating an old farm house. At the same time a girl at nearby boarding school dies for a suspicious fall. DI Annie Delamere leads both enquiries and soon the body count starts to rise, there is more to these cases than first thought.
A good plot with a twist that was quite predictable. An easy read and would happily recommend to any crime fiction fan.
February 24, 2022
A murder story set in an around a girls' school in Derbyshire. In the long hot summer of 1976, a girl Jayne, disappears. In the present day, human remains are found during building work on a house close to the school, the book follows the cold case investigation of the disappearance of Jayne, but this quickly becomes less relevant when a pupil of the school is also found dead, possibly due to foul play.
The book is well written and kept my interest, though there are a lot of characters to keep track of. I liked the detectives and the investigation was logical and well put together. There are a couple of unexpected turns in the story.
Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
The book is well written and kept my interest, though there are a lot of characters to keep track of. I liked the detectives and the investigation was logical and well put together. There are a couple of unexpected turns in the story.
Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
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