What do you think?
Rate this book
The Dales Detective #8
Date with Evil
In the eighth novel in the Dales Detective series, Date with Evil , Samson and Delilah are about to discover that all of their new cases may be connected to a network of evil that seems to be surrounding Bruncliffe. Will they solve them all before the danger comes directly to their door?
Evil is stalking the streets of Bruncliffe . . .
From stolen washing to inheritance investigations, Bruncliffe’s Dales Detective Agency is being inundated with cases.
But with Samson O’Brien still in London helping the Met Police clear his name, and the newly appointed member of the investigations team, Ida Capstick, distracted by her brother George’s insistence that their farm is haunted, Delilah Metcalfe is struggling to meet the mounting demands for the agency’s services.
So when the mother of a local estate agent arrives at the offices insisting her son is missing, Delilah is relieved to have Samson return to help.
Little do the detective duo know that several of their cases are about to collide, as what appears to be a simple matter of identifying the whereabouts of the missing man becomes something far more sinister.
Something that will finally expose the network of evil which has been infiltrating the Dales town over the past decade, and in doing so place Delilah in the utmost danger.
Evil is stalking the streets of Bruncliffe . . .
From stolen washing to inheritance investigations, Bruncliffe’s Dales Detective Agency is being inundated with cases.
But with Samson O’Brien still in London helping the Met Police clear his name, and the newly appointed member of the investigations team, Ida Capstick, distracted by her brother George’s insistence that their farm is haunted, Delilah Metcalfe is struggling to meet the mounting demands for the agency’s services.
So when the mother of a local estate agent arrives at the offices insisting her son is missing, Delilah is relieved to have Samson return to help.
Little do the detective duo know that several of their cases are about to collide, as what appears to be a simple matter of identifying the whereabouts of the missing man becomes something far more sinister.
Something that will finally expose the network of evil which has been infiltrating the Dales town over the past decade, and in doing so place Delilah in the utmost danger.
464 pages, Paperback
Published August 1, 2023
About the author
Julia Chapman
36 books451 followersJulia Chapman has led a nomadic existence, spending most of her adult life abroad. Having published a series of novels set in the idyllic French Pyrenees, she has now turned her hand to crime. Currently writing the Dales Detective Series, she lives and writes in the stunning Yorkshire Dales where her books are set. The first in the series, Date with Death, makes its debut in March 2017.
Contact her on facebook (Julia Stagg or Dales Detective) or on Twitter @DalesWriter
Pseudonym for author Julia Stagg
Contact her on facebook (Julia Stagg or Dales Detective) or on Twitter @DalesWriter
Pseudonym for author Julia Stagg
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews
January 10, 2024
4.75⭐️
Wowww les émotions pendant ce tome ! J'ai vécu le dernier quart SOUS TENSION ! J'étais totalement scotchée à mon audio. Je suis ravie de toutes les avancées, des intrigues de fond qui se démêlent enfin et en plus avec des résolutions plausibles.
J'aime d'amour les personnages, que ce soit Samson et Delilah qui font vibrer mon coeur ou tous les perso secondaires qui sont follement attachants. Je n'ai qu'une envie aller faire un road trip dans le Yorkshire et poser mes valises à Bruncliffe.
Heureusement qu'il y a une suite sinon j'aurais eu un goût de trop peu tellement j'aime cette saga, et la fin m'aurait paru expéditive en ce qui concerne les relations entre les personnages. Je me demande dans quoi va nous entrainer l'autrice vu que toutes les intrigues sont résolues. J'espère qu'elle ne fera pas du recyclé et gardera la fraicheur caractéristique de sa saga !
Wowww les émotions pendant ce tome ! J'ai vécu le dernier quart SOUS TENSION ! J'étais totalement scotchée à mon audio. Je suis ravie de toutes les avancées, des intrigues de fond qui se démêlent enfin et en plus avec des résolutions plausibles.
J'aime d'amour les personnages, que ce soit Samson et Delilah qui font vibrer mon coeur ou tous les perso secondaires qui sont follement attachants. Je n'ai qu'une envie aller faire un road trip dans le Yorkshire et poser mes valises à Bruncliffe.
Heureusement qu'il y a une suite sinon j'aurais eu un goût de trop peu tellement j'aime cette saga, et la fin m'aurait paru expéditive en ce qui concerne les relations entre les personnages. Je me demande dans quoi va nous entrainer l'autrice vu que toutes les intrigues sont résolues. J'espère qu'elle ne fera pas du recyclé et gardera la fraicheur caractéristique de sa saga !
March 6, 2024
4,5/5
Encore un excellent tome qui a su m'embarquer dès les premiers chapitres.
J'ai énormément aimé le fait que cet espèce de puzzle du début et toutes ces enquêtes disparates se rejoignent enfin pour qu'on aboutisse à la résolution de la dernière GROSSE enquête qu'il nous restait à traiter. Le rythme est effréné et on n'a vraiment pas le temps de s'ennuyer.
Y'a pas à dire, au-delà des personnages principaux, les personnages secondaires font TOUT et je peux MOURRRRIIIIIRRRRRR pour ❤️ Ida Capstick ❤️. Les personnages de Gregor et Pavel m'ont aussi beaucoup touchée.
Je ne sais pas trop après cette conclusion ce qui peut arriver par la suite car on aurait très bien pu s'arrêter là en vrai mais j'ai pas de doute sur le fait que Julia Chapman va encore faire une prouesse et nous embarquer dans son petit monde.
Encore un excellent tome qui a su m'embarquer dès les premiers chapitres.
J'ai énormément aimé le fait que cet espèce de puzzle du début et toutes ces enquêtes disparates se rejoignent enfin pour qu'on aboutisse à la résolution de la dernière GROSSE enquête qu'il nous restait à traiter. Le rythme est effréné et on n'a vraiment pas le temps de s'ennuyer.
Y'a pas à dire, au-delà des personnages principaux, les personnages secondaires font TOUT et je peux MOURRRRIIIIIRRRRRR pour ❤️ Ida Capstick ❤️. Les personnages de Gregor et Pavel m'ont aussi beaucoup touchée.
Je ne sais pas trop après cette conclusion ce qui peut arriver par la suite car on aurait très bien pu s'arrêter là en vrai mais j'ai pas de doute sur le fait que Julia Chapman va encore faire une prouesse et nous embarquer dans son petit monde.
January 26, 2024
Probably my favourite and most eagerly anticipated cosy series. The author has brought to life the North Yorkshire landscape and populated it with wonderful characters. This one is slightly darker than the previous seven books, but ties up neatly with the baddie *finally* getting caught.
Developments in Samson and Delilah's relationship, as well as several others, are front and centre, but all while tying together a few seemingly unrelated jobs that have come into the Dales Detective Agency. The new, disparate, slapdash crew, which includes Ida Capstick, struggles to get organised and on top of things while Samson has returned to London for a period of time.
All the previously laid threads meet here and many are neatly tied up, although there's one more book (at least), so obviously not all of them. Am very much looking forward to No 9!
Highly recommended, although this is definitely a series you need to start from the beginning in order to be able to follow the characters and story arcs.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the ARC to read and review. All opinions are strictly my own.
Developments in Samson and Delilah's relationship, as well as several others, are front and centre, but all while tying together a few seemingly unrelated jobs that have come into the Dales Detective Agency. The new, disparate, slapdash crew, which includes Ida Capstick, struggles to get organised and on top of things while Samson has returned to London for a period of time.
All the previously laid threads meet here and many are neatly tied up, although there's one more book (at least), so obviously not all of them. Am very much looking forward to No 9!
Highly recommended, although this is definitely a series you need to start from the beginning in order to be able to follow the characters and story arcs.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the ARC to read and review. All opinions are strictly my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 23, 2025
Oh oh wat een spanning toch weer. En niet te vergeten humor vol.
February 10, 2026
On avance dans cette série ! Ce 8e tome vient clore le dossier de corruption à Bruncliffe. La relation entre Samson et Delilah se décante. Reste la décision finale sur l'avenir du détective puisque sa mise au vert arrive à son terme. Un choix se pose, Londres ou le Yorkshire ?
Un très bon rythme. Des séquences riches en émotions. Des personnages qui sont comme une famille, qu'on adore et qu'on déteste. Et cette vie à la campagne qui n'est jamais de tout repos. ♥
Le support audio est excellent.
Un très bon rythme. Des séquences riches en émotions. Des personnages qui sont comme une famille, qu'on adore et qu'on déteste. Et cette vie à la campagne qui n'est jamais de tout repos. ♥
Le support audio est excellent.
September 22, 2023
5⭐️
Clap de fin pour cette saga incroyable 🫶🏼🥹
J’ai eu les larmes aux yeux ce matin en écoutant ! Vraiment je les aime trop ! Je suis si triste de les quitter mais si heureuse de les avoir rencontrés !
Maintenant j’ai plus qu’à trouver une saga de cosy mystery aussi géniale que celle-là !
Si vous n’avez pas encore sauté le pas mais que ce genre vous intéresse fonceeeeeez 🎉🎉
Clap de fin pour cette saga incroyable 🫶🏼🥹
J’ai eu les larmes aux yeux ce matin en écoutant ! Vraiment je les aime trop ! Je suis si triste de les quitter mais si heureuse de les avoir rencontrés !
Maintenant j’ai plus qu’à trouver une saga de cosy mystery aussi géniale que celle-là !
Si vous n’avez pas encore sauté le pas mais que ce genre vous intéresse fonceeeeeez 🎉🎉
March 23, 2024
4.75 ⭐️
Le tome le plu abouti de la saga, et à mon sens le meilleur aussi ! (Même si ce n’est pas mon préféré)
Incroyable ce tome !! On réalise que tous les livres de la série mènent à celui-ci, depuis le tome 2 c’est fou tous les indices que l’autrice avaient dissimulés !
J’ai vraiment trop trop aimé ce livre, vraiment c’était trop bien !
Le seul petit hic pour moi c’est la fin et la manière dont la relation entre Delilah et Samson se profile sur le prochain tome. Vraiment jpp de ces deux là qui sont pas capables de se mettre en couple normalement 😩
Le tome le plu abouti de la saga, et à mon sens le meilleur aussi ! (Même si ce n’est pas mon préféré)
Incroyable ce tome !! On réalise que tous les livres de la série mènent à celui-ci, depuis le tome 2 c’est fou tous les indices que l’autrice avaient dissimulés !
J’ai vraiment trop trop aimé ce livre, vraiment c’était trop bien !
Le seul petit hic pour moi c’est la fin et la manière dont la relation entre Delilah et Samson se profile sur le prochain tome. Vraiment jpp de ces deux là qui sont pas capables de se mettre en couple normalement 😩
March 18, 2025
Everything came to a head in this book, but some things are still up in the air. Wonderful characters and good storyline. Can't wait for the next one
May 1, 2023
My thanks to Pan Macmillan Pan for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Date with Evil’ by Julia Chapman.
This is Book 8 in the highly popular Dales Detective series of mysteries.
I designated it as a semi-cosy as it has darker themes than I expect from the usual gentle cosy. As this was my first experience of this series I have no idea if they are all as dark.
It opens with Delilah Metcalfe of Bruncliffe’s Dales Detective Agency struggling to meet the mounting demands for the agency’s services. Ida Capstick, the newly appointed member of the investigations team, is distracted by her brother George’s belief that their farm is haunted. Then the mother of a local estate agent arrives at the offices insisting that her son is missing. Delilah, along with Samson O’Brien, begin to investigate what appears to be a straightforward case little realising that several of their cases are about to collide and enter more sinister territory. No further details to avoid spoilers.
Usually I am confident about just jumping into an ongoing mystery series as authors will provide background for readers new to the series. However, in this case I found myself fairly lost given what was clearly extensive character backstories and plot lines that appear to have been carried over from previous books.
However, as I kept reading I did get more into the swing of the current story and found it a compelling read.
Still, I feel that this is a series that I would advise is best to read from the beginning, which is something that I hope to do in the upcoming months.
In terms of ratings, I can imagine that those readers invested in the goings on in Bruncliffe and the Dales Detective Agency it’s a clear winner but it proved a bit of a struggle for me without experience of the earlier books.
This is Book 8 in the highly popular Dales Detective series of mysteries.
I designated it as a semi-cosy as it has darker themes than I expect from the usual gentle cosy. As this was my first experience of this series I have no idea if they are all as dark.
It opens with Delilah Metcalfe of Bruncliffe’s Dales Detective Agency struggling to meet the mounting demands for the agency’s services. Ida Capstick, the newly appointed member of the investigations team, is distracted by her brother George’s belief that their farm is haunted. Then the mother of a local estate agent arrives at the offices insisting that her son is missing. Delilah, along with Samson O’Brien, begin to investigate what appears to be a straightforward case little realising that several of their cases are about to collide and enter more sinister territory. No further details to avoid spoilers.
Usually I am confident about just jumping into an ongoing mystery series as authors will provide background for readers new to the series. However, in this case I found myself fairly lost given what was clearly extensive character backstories and plot lines that appear to have been carried over from previous books.
However, as I kept reading I did get more into the swing of the current story and found it a compelling read.
Still, I feel that this is a series that I would advise is best to read from the beginning, which is something that I hope to do in the upcoming months.
In terms of ratings, I can imagine that those readers invested in the goings on in Bruncliffe and the Dales Detective Agency it’s a clear winner but it proved a bit of a struggle for me without experience of the earlier books.
June 14, 2024
ROUND OF APPLAUSE! STANDING OVATION! JULIA YOU'VE DONE IT AGAIN!
December 11, 2024
What a way to bring together all of the strands of the previous books including Samson’s struggles with the law and the events of the previous book, along with what seemingly seems to be a lot of unconnected minor cases. It’s cleverly done, and I couldn’t put it down at all for the last quarter after a slightly slow start. I started listening to it in audiobook format and then switched to eBook.
Samson and Delilah are a real pair, and I love the way they work together. But this is a darker story than the early ones in the series – this one and the previous one highlight a much darker part of rural life, which is often considered to be found more in the city. As the story moved on, I became much more engaged in it. Grigore and Pavel were central to the story but without having the means to really explain what was going on and what they knew.
The characters are all really engaging, and I loved seeing more of Ida and George Capstick, along with the other residents of Bruncliffe. Samson and Delilah see developments in their relationship which has been coming over the previous seven books. It’s great to see it finally coming to fruition though I can see bumps in the road will still come in future books as well in their relationship.
I loved how all of the threads came together in this book to explain all of the strange things that have happened previously in Bruncliffe, and reveal who the villain of the events was, with real danger facing several characters once again. You really do need to read the previous books in the series in order to bring together everything happening in this story but believe me, it’s well worth it as the entire series is mysterious and enjoyable!
Samson and Delilah are a real pair, and I love the way they work together. But this is a darker story than the early ones in the series – this one and the previous one highlight a much darker part of rural life, which is often considered to be found more in the city. As the story moved on, I became much more engaged in it. Grigore and Pavel were central to the story but without having the means to really explain what was going on and what they knew.
The characters are all really engaging, and I loved seeing more of Ida and George Capstick, along with the other residents of Bruncliffe. Samson and Delilah see developments in their relationship which has been coming over the previous seven books. It’s great to see it finally coming to fruition though I can see bumps in the road will still come in future books as well in their relationship.
I loved how all of the threads came together in this book to explain all of the strange things that have happened previously in Bruncliffe, and reveal who the villain of the events was, with real danger facing several characters once again. You really do need to read the previous books in the series in order to bring together everything happening in this story but believe me, it’s well worth it as the entire series is mysterious and enjoyable!
July 15, 2023
Retourner à Bruncliff, c’est retrouver de vieux amis et la chaleur de ce petit village anglais mais pas seulement. Sur la vallée, planent de sombres secrets et malversations qui se suivent de tomes en tomes et qui apportent malheureusement une forme de répétition aux deux derniers tomes.
S’il est plaisant de retrouver tous les personnages, même l’intrigue a un goût de déjà-vu avec le précédent roman malgré les ajouts.
C’est un peu dommage mais j’espère qu’une suite amène un peu de fraîcheur et permette de retrouver le charme des premières intrigues.
S’il est plaisant de retrouver tous les personnages, même l’intrigue a un goût de déjà-vu avec le précédent roman malgré les ajouts.
C’est un peu dommage mais j’espère qu’une suite amène un peu de fraîcheur et permette de retrouver le charme des premières intrigues.
November 9, 2023
The Dales Detective series is always a joy. It feels like a warm bath and coming home, but also quite a dark, intriguing mystery that seamlessly blends in cases like missing buckets and stoles laundry with some serious harrowing storylines. And all that with a great ensemble cast and amazing foreshadowing and plotting across books. I kind of want to start Date with Death again just to see if I can spot all the hints at the main plot that really shines in this latest book :)
Can't wait for the next one!
Can't wait for the next one!
March 27, 2026
Definitely one of the best so far and it really feels like the series should be finished now so I worry that there are two more books to go! Ida really comes into her own and some of the other characters get a bit of air time without being shoehorned in too much. Lovely cosy crime at its best.
March 16, 2023
J'adore cette série et ces personnages, j'attend toujours les nouveaux tomes avec impatience. J'ai adoré celui ci.
April 30, 2023
J'attends toujours avec impatience la publication du prochain tome de cette série. Et encore une fois, je n'ai pas été déçue. Même si l'enquête a fait un très grand bond en avant, j'espère qu'il y aura une suite.
June 7, 2024
Vraiment génial! J'attends le 9ème tome avec impatience...
March 13, 2025
Mon tome préféré où tout le village se retrouve impliqué
August 9, 2025
Toujours aussi agréable à lire. Franchement, je ne suis jamais déçu. J’apprécie cet univers, les personnages, l’ambiance. Et le fil conducteur est toujours au top.
March 9, 2026
4 1/2 stars
April 17, 2026
Audiobook
Further great instalment in this series - very different to the last with a slower start but still an excellent listen with entertaining characters
Further great instalment in this series - very different to the last with a slower start but still an excellent listen with entertaining characters
June 19, 2023
Samson and Delilah do not work well with each other, actually she hates him. But with funny circumstances, call it fate, they have to work together. It doesn’t help that both his detective agency and Delilah’s business are lettered the same, ‘DDA’ and in the same building! They will have to put the past behind them if there is to be any business coming their way, and now with suspicious deaths, they embark on different mysteries in every book.
Read below for a non-spoiler review of the whole series!
Took me a while to read this one, but I finally finished the series!
I’m so happy I got into these cozy mysteries, they are delightful and the character development is spot on! They get better with each book and we get to see more and more characters that add a lot to the story – old people, a rich guy, questionable characters, all together shady characters, a fun as hell cleaner/maid, and so much more!
I loved Delilah and Samson together, they turn out to be a really good combo – good for each other and their business. Delilah ends up putting a lot into helping Samson and they both solve the mysteries the town brings them.
But in each book we get a glimpse to the end game, so if you are going to start this series I recommend book one!
Overall I think this is totally worth it, it has all the cozy vibes one could want, characters that are fun and with depth, a dog that is the most lovable thing, a slight romantic touch and a lot of mystery. Who knew a small town could harbor so much!
The whole series is a solid 4 stars. I just recently got into cozy mysteries so I don’t know much about it but I personally loved this!
Read below for a non-spoiler review of the whole series!
Took me a while to read this one, but I finally finished the series!
I’m so happy I got into these cozy mysteries, they are delightful and the character development is spot on! They get better with each book and we get to see more and more characters that add a lot to the story – old people, a rich guy, questionable characters, all together shady characters, a fun as hell cleaner/maid, and so much more!
I loved Delilah and Samson together, they turn out to be a really good combo – good for each other and their business. Delilah ends up putting a lot into helping Samson and they both solve the mysteries the town brings them.
But in each book we get a glimpse to the end game, so if you are going to start this series I recommend book one!
Overall I think this is totally worth it, it has all the cozy vibes one could want, characters that are fun and with depth, a dog that is the most lovable thing, a slight romantic touch and a lot of mystery. Who knew a small town could harbor so much!
The whole series is a solid 4 stars. I just recently got into cozy mysteries so I don’t know much about it but I personally loved this!
March 25, 2024
Would love to live in Bruncliffe! Or failing that, visit.
July 21, 2026
Really love this series, like how this book drew all the plots from the previous 7 together and everything linked up nicely.
Sad there’s only 2 more left but excited to see where the story goes.
Sad there’s only 2 more left but excited to see where the story goes.
January 1, 2023
Une fin en feu d’artifice et qu’on attendait depuis le premier tome.
Jamais déçue avec Julia Chapman.
Jamais déçue avec Julia Chapman.
June 10, 2023
This has been my favorite so far! I loved the resolution of a main story line throughout this series, and the heavy topic. Well told! Oh and a hug to Tolpuddle!
July 30, 2023
An entertaining series with great plots, with subplots that follow through the books. I became really attached to the characters. They're very real and funny at times.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews