To Die For

DI Sam Cobbs #1

by M.A. Comley

Some secrets are worth dying for…

When a farmer is found murdered in his home, DI Sam Cobbs assumes she's dealing with a routine burglary gone wrong.

But as more bodies surface in the idyllic rural community, Sam is forced to enter a deadly game of cat and mouse.

Someone is digging up the past. Can Sam drag them into the light in time, or will she be buried with the deadly secret?

From NY Times bestselling author who brought you the Justice Series, M.A. Comley now brings you To Die For, the first book in these brand-new police procedural series, a tour-de-force not to be missed.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Procedural, British Literature, Mystery Thriller

194 pages, Paperback

Published November 25, 2021

About the author

New York Times, USA Today, Amazon Top 20 bestselling author, iBooks top 5 bestselling and #2 bestselling author on Barnes and Noble. Over one million copies sold world wide. I am a British author who moved to France in 2002, and that's when I turned my hobby into a career.

When I'm not writing crime novels I'm either reading them or going on long walks with my rescue Labrador, Dex.

I hope you enjoy reading my books, especially the Justice series, Cruel Justice, Impeding Justice, Final Justice, Foul Justice, Guaranteed Justice, Ultimate Justice, Virtual Justice, Hostile Justice, Tortured Justice, Rough Justice, Dubious Justice, Calculated Justice, Twisted Justice, Prime Justice. There are several novellas and short stories in the series too.

My other successful series are: The DI Sally Parker thriller series, which includes WRONG PLACE, NO HIDING PLACE and COLD CASE

The Hero series, TORN APART, END RESULT, IN PLAIN SIGHT and DOUBLE JEOPARDY(published by Bloodhound Books)

I have three books in the Intention series, Sole Intention, Grave Intention and Devious Intention.

I've also written a couple of standalone novels - EVIL IN DISGUISE and FOREVER WATCHING YOU.

As well as co-authoring The Caller with Tara Lyons.

And Clever Deception, Tragic Deception and Sinful Deception co-authored by fellow NY Times bestselling author Linda S Prather.

If you'd like to keep up to date with new releases you can find me on Facebook by following this link http://smarturl.it/sps7jh or sign up for my newsletter http://www.hyperurl.co/su1xnt

If you fancy a lighter read, why not try one of my romances: A Time to Heal, and A Time for Change--Based on a TRUE story. I also have a selection of short stories and novelettes available which I know you'll enjoy.

You can find out more about me at the following blogs.

http://melcomley.blogspot.com

http://melcomleyromances.blogspot.com

Reviews

[Kathi Defranc · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thrilling story in a new area, the Lake District, where we meet DI Sam Cobb and her team, grappling with a new murder of an old farmer and his dog. Seems like the farmer tried to shoot a burglar but had the gun taken and used on him! It has to be a burglary, there seems to be nothing else here, but no evidence and no clues aren't helping them at all. Especially when other bodies begin to drop in the same rural area! What Is going on?! Soon Sam is pulled into a deadly game of cat and mouse, one she may not win...
We meet the team working with Sam, learning their likes, quirks and enjoying their banter. Sam is trying to keep her home life from causing problems at work, as we all have those arguments with our families we try to leave behind closed doors. The entire team is stumped, all the murders are by different methods, and questioning other residents of the area leads to More questions for everyone!
A fabulous new police procedural by an author I have come to seek every time I need a reading fix!! Fabulous start to a new series that I am so looking forward to the next!!!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the fist book in a brand new series by the author that features DI Sam Cobbs. What a great start to a new series as well!

Our first case with Sam and her partner Bob seems like a straight forward burglary. How it starts off was both harrowing, upsetting and emotional. It had me invested straight away and I was desperate for the culprit to be brought to justice and fast. As the story goes along, I was so far off track as to who was behind these heinous crimes so it made for some surprising reading.

Sam and Bob make a great partnership. One thing with this author in her crime thrillers, she writes the best team characters who readers quickly take to and want to know as much about their personal lives as well as their working ones. Sam’s personal life makes for some very interesting reading indeed and I am eager to see where things will go for her.

To Die For is a fab read for the first book in a series. It usually can take me until book two in a series to fully enjoy it as sometimes the story centres more on getting to know the characters rather than on the storyline itself. This wasn’t the case though and it drew me straight in and kept hold of me until the very end. Loved and it and can’t wait for book two!

My thanks to the author for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book one in the new DI Sam Cobbs series set in Cumbria and what a great start. As always a well written police procedural thriller without any over descriptive scenes of blood and gore, but not quite a cozy read. Great new character in Samantha Cobbs, a woman with a strong sense of right and not afraid to show her softer side when needed.

Briefly, a farmer and his dog are found dead, both shot with the farmer’s shotgun, but clearly murder. With no clues to help Sam and her team are at a loss until the murders of his nearest neighbours and good friends provide the first clue. Alongside the case Sam and her husband are having a difficult time over the new kitchen they are planning and Sam doesn’t want their arguments to affect her job.

I liked this. A lot. Probably one of my favourite of this authors recent books - she is very prolific! A good read ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Jennifer Mafnas · Rating 1 out of 5]

decent plot. but pretty stilted writing- terrible dialogue. extraneous characters and plot lines that confused unnecessarily. i did not feel connected to the protagonist and really felt that nothing was wrapped up- however i suppose this gives me hope that i can write something and get it sold on kindle and amazon if this can!!!

[Hege · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't know why anyone has given this more than 1 star. The writing is horrible and the research appears non-existent.

[Gordon Johnston · Rating 1 out of 5]

To Die For is a short novel with a superficial plot and scarcely believable characters. Lead investigator DI Samantha Cobbs is barely credible as a police officer, let alone a DI. And the lack of basic police procedures throughout the plot is startling. In the end the team don't really find the culprit but rather have the solution handed to them in spite of their poor police work.

There is little actual investigation in the case of a farmer found murdered. On several occasions possible leads are forgotten about for days and many basics are missed entirely. And the dialogue is odd throughout, switching between ultra formal and almost teenage banter. Perhaps if less time had been spent detailing Sam's kitchen renovations and her daily task dealing with mountains of post (don't the police use email?) ....

[Kaila Riley · Rating 1 out of 5]

This one was a struggle to get through. After the last book I read thinking it couldn’t get any worse..I picked up this one. I felt nothing for the characters, so terribly written I could picture the bad acting and dialogue as it played in my head, unnecessary and pointless sentences even from non-main characters which brought nothing to the story - overall boring.

[Mrs B E Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant new series, set in the Cumbrian Lake District, by this talented author whose stories never fail to entertain.

An elderly farmer and his faithful dog are found brutally murdered in their farmhouse on the eve of his retirement and move to a new home and life.

DI Samantha (Sam) Cobb and her partner, DS Bob Jones, are called out to the scene and are appalled by the horrific scene. It transpires that this hard working farmer and his dog have been shot by the farmer’s own rifle. There are signs of disturbance and it appears that their deaths are as a result of a burglar or burglars having Ben disturbed. disturbed.

While they and the team are investigating this heinous crime, yet another farmer is reported missing and his body found, bloated and floating, on Ullswater Lake, by a man in a boat who dragged the body ashore.

Is this linked, to the previous murder and, if so, how and why.

Who is next and will Sam and her team uncover what is prompting someone to kill these farmers? Can she and her team find and stop this callous murderer before he strikes again.

The farms are spread over the countryside and there are no witnesses. Who will be next, and why farmers?

Time is ticking by, the body count is piling up and Sam and the team are up against it.

Very Highly Recommended

[Nicky · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really hate to be negative but goodness me this book was truly woeful. How it ever get published is beyond my comprehension. The author doesn’t have any clue about police procedures and has obviously done no research whatsoever on the subject. The dialogue is poor and very childish. I really do not understand the readers who give this book a high rating, they are obviously friends or relatives of the author. When I checked out the author it appears they write a book a month. Well maybe if they didn’t dish out rubbish books like a conveyor belt and just concentrated on a book or two a year and put more work into the research they writing and storyline may be better.

[GILL · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too much sniggering

I'm never sure about his author there's far too much 'sniggering' going on and the dialogue is a bit naff, however I seem to keep going back to her various books from time to time..the storylines are good and readable but think it's time for another long break. No offence intended.

[Linda Prather · Rating 5 out of 5]

A long-time MA Comley fan I’m always excited when a new series pops up. DI Sam Cobbs did not disappoint. A debut skillfully crafted in a way to allow you to get to know the characters, their strong points and family issues.

To Die For begins with the horrendous murder of Tom Douglas and his beloved pet, Daisy, who dies in an effort to save him. When Sam and her team arrive clues are sparse, but one thing is clear—someone was looking for something and it isn’t long before Sam and her team realize they didn’t find it as Tom’s neighbor and best friend goes missing.

Having grown up in a rural area the older farmers set out in the story quickly became near and dear to my heart. Proud people who have worked hard all their lives. Friends that protect and care about each other. Who would want to hurt them and why?

An excellent beginning to what I hope will be a long running series as I’m anxiously waiting to find out what’s up with the handsome psychiatrist. Highly recommended to those who love British police procedurals and British crime thrillers.

[Kate M · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a hidden gem! I love a good thriller book and love the Lake District, so when I saw this series on Kindle Unlimited it sounded like my cup of tea. ☕️

The plot had me hooked from the start and I found Sam to be a really likeable character. Enjoyed the mixture of the working investigation and her personal trials - gosh, Chris and that kitchen! Hope to see more of Rhys too. 👀

Would recommend if you’re looking for a light/cosy but thoroughly engaging detective story. Time to get straight into Book 2!

[Sean · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never know what to expect or how I will feel about a new series that I start especially by an author who has written my favourite series.

Sam is an interesting character with a lot of issues it seems. I do love the fact that her family life isn't spectacular.

The story was very good with a pace that kept you reading. I love how the stories of this author always are well paced and even with that it shows so much of the family dynamics which makes me always happy.

While I did love the book and the characters I don't know it just felt that I was missing that full connection to the minor characters. I think that is what would have taken this to the next level. I know it will come as this is the first book in the series and each character is finding their ways.

[Sonnie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring

Surprised by so many good ratings. Boring and disjointed. Silly, immature dialog. Unlike any other British police procedural I’ve read. I read until 4th chapter then skipped to the end. It was so boring I didn’t care who did it. Do not recommend at all.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The final of three books by this author that I picked up. The stories are only just okay; the characters don’t do much for me. I think I am done.

[Dee Groocock · Rating 5 out of 5]

A farmer is found dead in his bedroom and a burglary gone wrong is suspected by D.I. Sam Cobbs and her team.

As more bodies pile up, the team are at a loss as to who is killing local residents and why.

This is a fantastic start to a new series by the author. I especially enjoyed the relationship between Sam and her work partner, Bob, there is some great banter between them. Great descriptive writing of the local area, written so well that if you close your eyes, you can see it all in your mind. Looking forward to reading more in this series, I have high hopes for it.

[Richard S. Levick · Rating 1 out of 5]

I deeply appreciate how hard it is to be creative, so I am reluctant to write a highly critical review, but the only mystery of this mystery is how it was published in the first place.

The book begins with a captivating and well written short first chapter and then plunges into superficial "character development," a truly unlikable protagonist who constantly lectures anyone in a scene on her view of sexism while engaging in worse behavior herself, yet being totally self-unaware. As with all of the characters in the book, there is no development.

Our protagonist's sexism allegations are repeated so often and with so little forethought that it can only be considered misandry. There is not a single capable or passably intelligent male character in the entire book, yet many of her female characters are little better. Only our hero -- not because of wisdom or detective skills but only because everyone else is so stupid or incompetent -- can manage her life and solve the crime.

To carry us between scenes, we are treated repeatedly to the grumblings of our protagonist's stomach, her consumption of food and the drinking of gallons of coffee, one uneventful cup at a time.

There is an old Woody Allen joke from the movie Annie Hall in the mid 1970s: “The food is terrible—and such small portions!” And that is the way of this book. It is really a short story that is sporadically interesting enough to turn pages but no scene ever develops into anything thoughtful or complex. Everyone and everything are paper thin.

Perhaps what would have been a decent short story is repeatedly and unnecessarily elongated by triple repetition of scenes -- in her head, as it happens and the next day at the precinct when she reports the incident. Pretty riveting when you add another cup of coffee.

[Felicity Gray1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This new series has certainly taken off with a bang !!
Set in the beautiful Lake District countryside , the team of DI Samantha (Sam) Cobbs and her partner DS Bob Jones are called out to a vicious crime scene. As they meet the pathologist in the upstairs farmhouse a gruesome sight awaits them. Lying there are the bodies of the farmer and his dog. What is the reason for this senseless killing? Here unfolds a terrible family horror as the days go by , although the clues are few and far between.
This author always makes each page come alive , the reader able to picture each scene as it happens. Looking forward to many more in this new series.

[Mrs J M Smith · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dreadful

I don't have anything positive to say except you can speed read it to get to the end and you don't miss anything. The plot is paper thin, there is absolutely no evidence of any police procedures and the lead characters have no redeeming features. Plus you don't get any interplay from the Lake District. I'm just glad I got it free. The bad news is that I have number two in the series in my library. What a mistake that was as I can't bear the thought of reading it. Life is too short to waste time reading poor literature. On the good news front: if you are considering a live of crime ask for DI Dobbs to investigate, then your chances of going undetected are huge.

[N LIGHTON · Rating 1 out of 5]

Can’t believe how poor this is

No apparent research into how criminal investigations are run, laughable attempts at dialogue between characters and lack of depth in the characters themselves. Move on and find something else - there’s nothing to see here.

[Kath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oooo, another new series from one of my favourite authors to get my teeth into. I say favourite, I'll expand on that - she is the most consistent author on my watch list, having never delivered a dud in all the time I've been reading her books. And it's a long time. And there are a lot of books! I really don't know how she keeps it all fresh and comes up with new storylines and exciting new characters all the time. But she does.
Anyway... here we meet DI Sam Cobbs who is based in the Lake District - an excuse for a segue into how lovely it is there :) - but I digress. She is called to the scene of a nasty murder. It appears that a farmer interrupted a burglar and had his own shotgun turned on him. Sam and her team start their investigation by interviewing his neighbours. They are only just scratching at the surface when things start to escalate and it all gets much darker...
I do love me a new series. New characters to get to know. And love :) And I did like Sam and Bob pretty much from the off. As with all her other characters, the author manages to get exactly the right balance between their work and home lives. As it's a first in series, there is a certain amount of the necessary scene setting and introductions to be made but the main crux is still the investigation. As it should be :)
If you are already familiar with this author you'll be please to know that everything that you know and love is front and centre herein too. I've already mentioned the main characters but all the characters, main and supporting, are all well crafted. Interaction between them, specifically the banter, is also as you would expect and, as always, lightens the tone and stops the book from getting too dark with the heinous crimes depicted. The storyline is interesting and intriguing and kept me on my toes throughout. All delivered in the usual no nonsense, no waffle or padding way. Culminating in an ending that both shocked and satisfied.
All in all a cracking opener to a series I am more than happy to add to my watch list.

[Katherine Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love detective fiction and this did everything it said on the can. The writing was clean and easy to read, it licked along at a good pace. The first DI Sam Cobbs mystery.

We find out who the bad guy is, and we go after him to nail his backside to the post. Could have used a twist or two maybe, or something more to add a bit of excitement. But that aside, it was an enjoyable read.

Good, solid detective fiction with believable characters. They are a bit vanilla, but they build well and work together. It’s the first book in the series and they have yet to grow as characters, I’m sure they will.

I was so keen to read this book for three reasons. The first is that it’s set in the English Lake district where I live. The second it’s by a Lakeland author and I haven’t read any fiction by current authors in the lakes. And third because I wanted to support a fellow local author.

I look forward to the next one.

[Kim J · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great beginning to a new seies. In order for me to get into a series, I have to feel a connection to the characters in the book. The dialogue needs to be real and bonest, and it has to include lives out side of work! And last but not least you have to feel the emotion! This book by M.A. Comley ticked all of the boxes and more! The book is fast paced right from the start and didn't have any down time. I never got close to who the murderer was, and there is good reason for that. I thought I knew who it was, but I was so far off base I embarrassed myself. The twists and turns are all in the right places, and if I hadn't fallen asleep last nivht, I would have read this in one sitting. I for one cannot wait until the next book is released so I can see what DI Sam Dobbs gets up to next! I don't believe in giving spoilers, so you'll just have to read this one yourself!!

[Mrs B Proud · Rating 2 out of 5]

Crime thrilled really?

When this new book flashed up and I saw it was a new crime series by M A Comley I was delighted. I've read loads of previous crime, murder thrillers by this author and assumed I was in for a treat. How wrong I was. This was truly dreadful for so many reasons. The main character DI Sam Cobbs had no redeeming features at all and the over the top chats with her Sergeant was similar to listening to silly teenagers discussing something completely mindless. The cosy chats, staying for lunch at house to house during routine evidence collecting just daft. Meeting strangers whilst dog walking, almost love at first sight, please come on it was like reading a romance novel hardly crime fiction. Disappointed which is such a shame considering all her previous series I've read of hers, so for me I will be giving the rest of this series a miss. BP Sheffield.

[Richard Angrave · Rating 2 out of 5]

On dear not what I expected

Labelled A Lake District thriller I purchased this book looking forward to a thriller set in my favourite place in the world. I was sadly disappointed with hardly a mention of the Lake District at all. If authors chose to write about well known areas they owe it to their readers to do a certain amount of research into that area and acknowledge aspects of the area. Sadly M A Comley has failed to do this. A good example of a thriller writer using the Lake District as the location for his stories is Martin Edwards who has won many awards and I have read all of his books. I suggest M A Comley reads some of Martin's books to see what a Lake District thriller should look like. Very disappointed with this book.

[Su Biela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotional rollercoaster

Oh my. I started of being really sad hearing the story of Tom Douglas, an old farmer who has had to make the sad decision to sell the farm and whose only companion was his faithful dog. When Tom and Daisy are found shot the next day a burglary gone wrong is suspected. Until the farmers neighbour is abducted and is discovered floating in one of the lakes, and his wife and daughter are found dead. Suddenly the body count is mounting and the police have no clues.
Great writing once again right to the end!!

[K Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read

Good start to a new series, I really liked the character's and the story flowed, although very upsetting especially in the beginning which was so sad. My only niggle is that Sam didn't investigate the first victims family thoroughly which to me is always the first thing they normally do, also describing someone's reactions as "sniggering" whch is an awful word and more suited to someone who is snide and immature. I noticed the Author used this quite a lot in the Sara Ramsay series too. It's the only thing that spoilt it for me

[Pete Ffrench · Rating 5 out of 5]

DI Sam Cobb and her partner Bob have to solve the murder of an old farmer on the eve of his retirement and three other associated killings. I thought there was going to be another when her stupid husband stripped out the kitchen without permission but that is by the by. They eventually catch a break and solve the case it is a family affair. Good story and solution but I find the dialogue between the two detectives is a bit combative and annoying at times I'm sure they would end up strangling each other.

[Alan Cotterell · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can't go wrong with Ms Comley, she always writes fantastic crime novels. This new series is no exception.

Set in the English Lake District an area I know fairly well. DI Sam Cobbs and her sergeant Bob. Have a series of gruesome murders that make you want the culprit or culprits? found, hung drawn and quartered.

As usual with Ms Comley, all the characters are written well and you can see them developing even during this the first book. I believe she is up to book 6 at the moment so I have some catching up to do

[wendi wigham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Viper in the nest.

DI Sam Cobbs is in charge of serious time unit in Cumbria, the beautiful scenery is marred by the murder of a farmer and his dog.
The clues are non existent, his friend and neighbour is then kidnapped.
Sam and her team are baffled, their investigation leads nowhere until a further body is found and there might just be the chance of DNA.
A good read, very down to earth. No frills in this one, a spade is a spade.
Makes a nice change from the technical jargon so many authors feel they need to use to impress the reader, along with the need to be 'woke'.