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Detectives Roy and Roscoe #2
The Crossbow Stalker
Midlands police chase a serial killer who inflicts death by the new urban weapon of choice.
Given the targets seem enveloped in love affairs and deceitful liaisons, Chief Inspector Gavin Roscoe suspects a motive of jealousy and revenge. But as the number of victims increases, the connection between them wears thin.
Is it really a broken heart holding the crossbow? And if it’s not some crazed Cupid, who has their finger on the trigger?
Plucky Detective Sergeant Sunita Roy doesn’t think they are looking in the right places. Yet without evidence, her theory won’t hold water. With the help of valiant and besotted DI Tom Vickers, she’ll take considerable risks to hunt down the hunter.
Following multiple leads, the duo will need to collar the right suspect, but nothing is quite what it seems in this exciting police procedural full of twists and turns.
THE CROSSBOW STALKER is the second standalone book to feature DCI Roscoe and DS Roy. Look out for the first, MURDER ON OXFORD LANE, also set in the heart of England.
If you like realistic crime fiction that keeps you guessing, you’ll love this book!
FREE with Kindle Unlimited and available in paperback from Amazon.
Given the targets seem enveloped in love affairs and deceitful liaisons, Chief Inspector Gavin Roscoe suspects a motive of jealousy and revenge. But as the number of victims increases, the connection between them wears thin.
Is it really a broken heart holding the crossbow? And if it’s not some crazed Cupid, who has their finger on the trigger?
Plucky Detective Sergeant Sunita Roy doesn’t think they are looking in the right places. Yet without evidence, her theory won’t hold water. With the help of valiant and besotted DI Tom Vickers, she’ll take considerable risks to hunt down the hunter.
Following multiple leads, the duo will need to collar the right suspect, but nothing is quite what it seems in this exciting police procedural full of twists and turns.
THE CROSSBOW STALKER is the second standalone book to feature DCI Roscoe and DS Roy. Look out for the first, MURDER ON OXFORD LANE, also set in the heart of England.
If you like realistic crime fiction that keeps you guessing, you’ll love this book!
FREE with Kindle Unlimited and available in paperback from Amazon.
354 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 6, 2022
125 people are currently reading
101 people want to read
About the author
Tony Bassett
13 books32 followersTONY BASSETT is a former journalist who worked on regional and national newspapers in Britain for more than 40 years. He mainly reported on crime, show business, human interest and consumer topics. Now retired, he writes crime fiction.
Tony is best known for his series of novels set in the West Midlands featuring Detective Chief Inspector Gavin Roscoe, an experienced detective and family man, and his sergeant, law graduate and resourceful problem-solver Sunita Roy.
THE LATEST novel (Book 8) begins with a retired nurse escaping to her hotel room looking for peace after a rowdy birthday party in a Warwickshire town. But to her horror, through a window, she witnesses a brutal crime — a young woman being strangled in another part of the building.
Detective Sergeant Sunita Roy — visiting the hotel while attending a wedding — is first on the scene, and quickly realises this isn’t a random attack. The victim, glamorous social media star Candy Goodhope, was living a double life — and everyone close to her has something to hide.
When events take a further sinister turn, she and her boss, DCI Gavin Roscoe, are obliged to look back at past lives to find a motive for murder.
THE FIFTH book in the series, Heir To Murder, was judged first in the Mystery and Suspense (Police Procedurals) category in the American Fiction Awards in June 2024.
The other titles in the collection (all published by The Book Folks) are: Murder On Oxford Lane, The Crossbow Stalker, Murder Of A Doctor, Out for Revenge and It Never Rains.
Tony has in addition written a stand-alone thriller Seat 97, about a man shot dead at a London concert hall, which was published by The Book Folks, while two further works (the crime novel Smile Of The Stowaway and the spy novel The Lazarus Charter) were published by The Conrad Press.
Tony first developed a love of writing at the age of nine when he produced a junior school magazine. A few years later, his local vicar in Tunbridge Wells, Kent staged his play about the Biblical story of Naboth's Vineyard.
At Hull University, Tony was judged Time-Life Magazine student journalist of the year in 1971.
Tony, who has five grown-up children, is a Life Member of the National Union of Journalists. He lives in South-East London with his partner Lin.
*** A great value Kindle boxset collection of the first SEVEN books is now available under the title DETECTIVES ROY & ROSCOE MYSTERIES BOOKS 1 - 7.
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FX2HGSQX/
US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FX2HGSQX/
Tony is best known for his series of novels set in the West Midlands featuring Detective Chief Inspector Gavin Roscoe, an experienced detective and family man, and his sergeant, law graduate and resourceful problem-solver Sunita Roy.
THE LATEST novel (Book 8) begins with a retired nurse escaping to her hotel room looking for peace after a rowdy birthday party in a Warwickshire town. But to her horror, through a window, she witnesses a brutal crime — a young woman being strangled in another part of the building.
Detective Sergeant Sunita Roy — visiting the hotel while attending a wedding — is first on the scene, and quickly realises this isn’t a random attack. The victim, glamorous social media star Candy Goodhope, was living a double life — and everyone close to her has something to hide.
When events take a further sinister turn, she and her boss, DCI Gavin Roscoe, are obliged to look back at past lives to find a motive for murder.
THE FIFTH book in the series, Heir To Murder, was judged first in the Mystery and Suspense (Police Procedurals) category in the American Fiction Awards in June 2024.
The other titles in the collection (all published by The Book Folks) are: Murder On Oxford Lane, The Crossbow Stalker, Murder Of A Doctor, Out for Revenge and It Never Rains.
Tony has in addition written a stand-alone thriller Seat 97, about a man shot dead at a London concert hall, which was published by The Book Folks, while two further works (the crime novel Smile Of The Stowaway and the spy novel The Lazarus Charter) were published by The Conrad Press.
Tony first developed a love of writing at the age of nine when he produced a junior school magazine. A few years later, his local vicar in Tunbridge Wells, Kent staged his play about the Biblical story of Naboth's Vineyard.
At Hull University, Tony was judged Time-Life Magazine student journalist of the year in 1971.
Tony, who has five grown-up children, is a Life Member of the National Union of Journalists. He lives in South-East London with his partner Lin.
*** A great value Kindle boxset collection of the first SEVEN books is now available under the title DETECTIVES ROY & ROSCOE MYSTERIES BOOKS 1 - 7.
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FX2HGSQX/
US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FX2HGSQX/
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
January 2, 2023
2017 A campaign of harassment leads to the first murder. But soon Heart of England CID have a serial killer on their patch. The murder weapon a croosbow. But what could be the motives behind the killings. DCI Gavin Roscoe and his team investigate.
An entertaining modern mystery.
An entertaining modern mystery.
February 11, 2022
A great follow up book to the first in the series. Certainly a writer to watch! Nice to read books in one of my old stomping grounds.
March 19, 2022
This is the second book in a series, but works well as a stand alone.
Reading this was like watching an episode of Midsomer Murders. This a police procedural and murder mystery. I’m not familiar with police protocol in England, but to this American reader the action seemed plausible.
As the title indicates, the murder weapon is rather unusual, a crossbow. As bodies pile up with a signature mark left at the scene, it becomes apparent we are dealing with a serial killer. The plot is full of twists, surprises and suspense right up to the last page. If you like British murder mysteries, you will love this book.
Reading this was like watching an episode of Midsomer Murders. This a police procedural and murder mystery. I’m not familiar with police protocol in England, but to this American reader the action seemed plausible.
As the title indicates, the murder weapon is rather unusual, a crossbow. As bodies pile up with a signature mark left at the scene, it becomes apparent we are dealing with a serial killer. The plot is full of twists, surprises and suspense right up to the last page. If you like British murder mysteries, you will love this book.
February 14, 2022
Anonymous threats to a tradesman aren't taken too seriously by the Queensbridge nick, but when he is found dead with a crimson crossbow bolt through his heart, DCI Gavin Roscoe and DS Sunita Roy are put on the case. Soon after, his girlfriend suffers the same fate and then, in a seemingly unrelated incident, another lady succumbs to the serial killer. Heart of England Police find themselves in a desperate race to find the killer before he strikes again.
The more I read this book the more engrossed I became and couldn't put it down. Several suspects are investigated but good old-fashion detective work is required to trace the real culprit.
The more I read this book the more engrossed I became and couldn't put it down. Several suspects are investigated but good old-fashion detective work is required to trace the real culprit.
September 14, 2022
DCI?
How in the world did Roscoe make DCI? Must have been seniority, he certainly isn't much of a detective, is he?
How in the world did Roscoe make DCI? Must have been seniority, he certainly isn't much of a detective, is he?
September 12, 2025
2.5 stars. This is the second book I've read in this series and I'm not sure if I'm going to try another one. I seem to be an outlier, but even though I like the characters, there are too many things that I'm having issues with.
1) Sunita is just so perfect. I'm not sure if Gavin even got one insight or original idea this time around (he had at least one or two in the first book) - she seemed to have them all, and at times almost seemed to be telling him how to do his job, with the requisite "Sir, I think you should do X." Because as well as being smart, gorgeous, brave, tough but with a tender heart, and humble, she's also polite.
2)
3) Too many plotlines. I get wanting to portray the victims as human beings, but I found the whole part about the three women having their "nights out" to be incredibly boring. Germane as it might have been, I still don't think we needed a blow-by-blow account. And the whole part with the guy having it on with his girlfriend at a hotel while he was supposed to be at a convention in Edinburgh... I don't even remember which of the husbands in the book he was - that's how little it added.
4) How on earth did Sunita know to ask the person at the genealogy department (do police forces have such a thing?) to research the family connection between two characters? As far as I could tell that was never explained, even at the end when in proper Sherlock Holmes mode, she was explaining the logic behind all her brilliant ideas. She mentioned getting some tips from members of the media that she evidently never shared with her colleagues (not very collegial there), but they seemed to be about cars that were involved in the murders.
5)
1) Sunita is just so perfect. I'm not sure if Gavin even got one insight or original idea this time around (he had at least one or two in the first book) - she seemed to have them all, and at times almost seemed to be telling him how to do his job, with the requisite "Sir, I think you should do X." Because as well as being smart, gorgeous, brave, tough but with a tender heart, and humble, she's also polite.
2)
3) Too many plotlines. I get wanting to portray the victims as human beings, but I found the whole part about the three women having their "nights out" to be incredibly boring. Germane as it might have been, I still don't think we needed a blow-by-blow account. And the whole part with the guy having it on with his girlfriend at a hotel while he was supposed to be at a convention in Edinburgh... I don't even remember which of the husbands in the book he was - that's how little it added.
4) How on earth did Sunita know to ask the person at the genealogy department (do police forces have such a thing?) to research the family connection between two characters? As far as I could tell that was never explained, even at the end when in proper Sherlock Holmes mode, she was explaining the logic behind all her brilliant ideas. She mentioned getting some tips from members of the media that she evidently never shared with her colleagues (not very collegial there), but they seemed to be about cars that were involved in the murders.
5)
March 21, 2022
There have been countless murder mystery books written that more often than not, fall into the same predictable storyline. However, author Tony Basset overcomes this predictability and provides an excellent whodunnit narrative his novel The Crossbow Stalker: A Serial Killer Strikes in The Heart of England.
Follow a string of mysterious and gruesome murders, the novel follows Sunita Roy and her colleagues as they strive to catch the murderer using a medieval style weapon before they strike again.
A well written story with a tight plot, the novel keeps you guessing until the very end. I appreciated the character development and small talk shared between them—it helps the book to see almost eerily quotidian despite the terrible things occurring.
A great read for lovers of detective/murder mysteries, The Crossbow Stalker is an entertaining and attention-grabbing book that will keep your interest until the last page.
Follow a string of mysterious and gruesome murders, the novel follows Sunita Roy and her colleagues as they strive to catch the murderer using a medieval style weapon before they strike again.
A well written story with a tight plot, the novel keeps you guessing until the very end. I appreciated the character development and small talk shared between them—it helps the book to see almost eerily quotidian despite the terrible things occurring.
A great read for lovers of detective/murder mysteries, The Crossbow Stalker is an entertaining and attention-grabbing book that will keep your interest until the last page.
March 15, 2022
Young detective sergeant Sunita Roy is called to a murder at a remote country cottage. The victim, Oliver, has been shot with a crossbow bolt and a handkerchief embroidered with the letter C has been stuffed into his mouth. So begins Tony Bassett's excellent crime thriller.
As the investigation progresses, so do the murders, all with crossbows and all with the handkerchief marked C. And there may be a copycat killer on the loose as well.
A near-perfect crime thriller. I’ve never solved a murder, myself, but the police methods seemed quite realistic. The large cast of characters and suspects all have inter-connecting stories. We get clues and pieces of evidence bit by bit, with tantalising red herrings, encouraging the reader to try to crack the crime. I usually don’t, but I did this time. The writing is excellent, and the characters are colourful.
As the investigation progresses, so do the murders, all with crossbows and all with the handkerchief marked C. And there may be a copycat killer on the loose as well.
A near-perfect crime thriller. I’ve never solved a murder, myself, but the police methods seemed quite realistic. The large cast of characters and suspects all have inter-connecting stories. We get clues and pieces of evidence bit by bit, with tantalising red herrings, encouraging the reader to try to crack the crime. I usually don’t, but I did this time. The writing is excellent, and the characters are colourful.
March 21, 2022
Having a serial killer wandering around in the streets is never a happy thought, but in this case, for Chief Inspector Gavin Roscoe and his partner, Detective Sergeant Sunita Roy, this is more than just a thought. With several victims in their minds, both detectives are going out of their way to understand what connects them and who this mysterious killer is. Twists and turns are what the author, Tony Bassett, uses to create a terrifying setting for this book called The Crossbow Stalker.
I loved this book! I felt the rush of the detectives, and I was creating a map of who the criminal might be in my head the whole time! Every time I put the book down, I found myself wondering what would happen next, which is exactly what a great book should do! The characters are amazing and well developed. I will definitely read Bassett’s book from now on.
I loved this book! I felt the rush of the detectives, and I was creating a map of who the criminal might be in my head the whole time! Every time I put the book down, I found myself wondering what would happen next, which is exactly what a great book should do! The characters are amazing and well developed. I will definitely read Bassett’s book from now on.
March 25, 2022
I love detective stories and mysteries, and The Crossbow Stalker is a fine example of the genre. Written by Tony Bassett, it is his second standalone book which has DCI Roscoe and DS Roy as its protagonists. In this great novel, these clever investigators have to hunt and face a serial killer in the heart of England. The task is not easy since the way in which this criminal behaves is completely unpredictable and the clues they get cannot be put together even to decide how he chooses his victims. DCI Roscoe and his partner DS Roy are in a race against the clock to prevent more killings and finally catch “the hunter”.
Action, mystery and an excellent writing style are guaranteed. I’m looking forward to new books from this author. I highly recommend it.
Action, mystery and an excellent writing style are guaranteed. I’m looking forward to new books from this author. I highly recommend it.
March 26, 2022
I found this book hard to put down. This story takes place in the heart of England and it’s based on a serial killer. Tom Vickers and the detective Sergeant Sunita Roy have to follow the leads and try to discover the true behind the murders.
The story line has lots of twists and turns in ways I just couldn’t predict. Also, the geographical details of the setting are amazing and captivated me.
Unfortunately, in my opinion, the end is abrupt and I think a little empty, which left me wanting more. It’s a real pity because the story is great. Overall, it’s a good novel and I'll be watching for future works by this author.
The story line has lots of twists and turns in ways I just couldn’t predict. Also, the geographical details of the setting are amazing and captivated me.
Unfortunately, in my opinion, the end is abrupt and I think a little empty, which left me wanting more. It’s a real pity because the story is great. Overall, it’s a good novel and I'll be watching for future works by this author.
August 6, 2022
Bassett has written an enjoyable, gripping read about a serial killer who murders using the unusual method of a crossbow. I particularly enjoyed the twists and turns of the plot and getting to know the protagonist DS Sunita Roy, and couldn't put the book down at the final stages. At times I felt like I wanted more depth of characterisation in the book, but other than that this was a great read.
December 2, 2022
Detective Sergeant Sunita Roy is fast becoming the new Columbo.Without the crumpled Raincoat but she always has one more thing to ask her suspects.
Excellent atmospheric setting in middle England.
A very good trilogy of crime novels which stand up individually.
More twists and turns than a Liz Truss premiership.The plot though alot more interesting.
Highly recommended.
Excellent atmospheric setting in middle England.
A very good trilogy of crime novels which stand up individually.
More twists and turns than a Liz Truss premiership.The plot though alot more interesting.
Highly recommended.
May 26, 2022
Another great story
Another great story featuring the Heart of Midlands police team and especially Sergeant Sunita Ray. Great story line with plenty of twists and turns and a few red herrings mixed in. An Enjoyable read and I am looking forward to reading more.
Another great story featuring the Heart of Midlands police team and especially Sergeant Sunita Ray. Great story line with plenty of twists and turns and a few red herrings mixed in. An Enjoyable read and I am looking forward to reading more.
February 4, 2023
Good read, but found the author tried to keep leading you to thinking who the killer is. Then to confirm that only to tell you it isn’t. Then when finally revealing the killer, it made less sense then all the others. Felt disappointed with that but the writing and story were good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 22, 2024
A very good and interesting story extremely well told.
The story was very complex with many characters with two different murders that added to the confusion of who the murderers were.
The story was very complex with many characters with two different murders that added to the confusion of who the murderers were.
December 5, 2024
The killer was hidden perfectly in plain sight, so I didn't figure it out. The red herring was convincing until we saw their home set-up.
Still a couple odd instances of the author dumping a character's age into the narration for no reason.
Still a couple odd instances of the author dumping a character's age into the narration for no reason.
June 25, 2025
This was a great find on the audible plus catalogue and it is a pity that the other books in the series haven't been put into the audio format.
I like the interaction between the two key detectives plus the others and it is different to other books in the genre.
Really enjoyed it.
I like the interaction between the two key detectives plus the others and it is different to other books in the genre.
Really enjoyed it.
December 27, 2025
Another good read
Another good book by Tony Bassett plenty of red herring to follow some made by Inspector Rosco which made it more interesting. A good team sorted these murders well worth a read .
Another good book by Tony Bassett plenty of red herring to follow some made by Inspector Rosco which made it more interesting. A good team sorted these murders well worth a read .
February 13, 2022
I thought the characters had developed from the last novel. A good well rounded plot and an enjoyable read.
February 3, 2024
Enjoyable murder mystery set in Birmingham and the Black Country (not 'Black County' - I suspect overzealous editing at one point). I liked the characters and the setting.
August 9, 2024
Excellent
Good story, took me a while to get into it. Kept picking up the book then got bored and stopped reading. Glad I persevered as it is a good story.
Good story, took me a while to get into it. Kept picking up the book then got bored and stopped reading. Glad I persevered as it is a good story.
September 26, 2024
Another good read with many twists and turns
September 30, 2024
Good book
You people should just read this novel yourselves and write your own review on this novel. I really enjoyed reading this novel very much. ShelleyMa
You people should just read this novel yourselves and write your own review on this novel. I really enjoyed reading this novel very much. ShelleyMa
May 6, 2025
Really enjoying this series!
July 8, 2025
Another great mystery with great characters. This is a really good series. Can’t wait to keep reading.
August 12, 2025
会员包括就听听，角色非常没意思
November 11, 2025
Definitely weaker than the first book, still a good story but it did get a little tiresome how police officers were put into obvious danger with no thought to their safety.
December 21, 2025
Too similar to the first one in the series.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews