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DI Jack Delaney #2
Blood Work
The first victim is a young woman found on Hampstead Heath. Her throat has been slashed and her body mutilated. This horrifying discovery marks the beginning of Detective Inspector Jack Delaney's toughest ever case.
When the expertly dissected body of a second young woman is discovered in a north London flat with a brightly coloured scarf tied around her neck, it suddenly becomes clear that a psychopath is on the loose. There is no apparent connection between the two victims and there are no clear motives - but the crime scenes tell a terrifying story.
Delaney, together with forensic pathologist Kate Walker, needs to act quickly and piece together the evidence in order to uncover the deadly pattern behind the murders. However, violent events from Delaney's past are threatening to catch up with him, and he must stay one step ahead of his enemies if he is to stop the killer from striking again.
When the expertly dissected body of a second young woman is discovered in a north London flat with a brightly coloured scarf tied around her neck, it suddenly becomes clear that a psychopath is on the loose. There is no apparent connection between the two victims and there are no clear motives - but the crime scenes tell a terrifying story.
Delaney, together with forensic pathologist Kate Walker, needs to act quickly and piece together the evidence in order to uncover the deadly pattern behind the murders. However, violent events from Delaney's past are threatening to catch up with him, and he must stay one step ahead of his enemies if he is to stop the killer from striking again.
352 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2009
12 people are currently reading
102 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
May 8, 2018
Another super story in this series but he needs to sort out getting it properly proofread or edited as there are WAY too many mistakes. I almost packed it in at one point and nearly wrote the rest of the instalments off altogether !! However, I really did like the story itself and stuck with it. He does need to up his game presentation-wise for book 3, though, for me.
I did chuckle at the 'Float On' mention remembering "Hi, my name is Larry" and how it always made me giggle. There were a lot of funny lines in it, though I dreaded him taking the humourous side of things too far.....
But those bloody mistakes.....water rain written instead of rainwater, we hear Bonner is dead but on the page before he was almost killed, sure quite and not quite sure, one minute he writes whisky then at other times it's whiskey, same goes for one guy's profession. One minute he's a warden and then morphs into the governor, of was used and not off. Roedean is not spelt Redean, he gave us tied and not tried and you and not your. Then "she never thought she would" should read "she thought she would never" to mean what he needs it to.
There were a LOT of words missed from sentences like he/up/the/from and then we get the added to a sentence needlessly on the same page he'd just dropped it from another sentence on !!
We had apostrophe mistakes and missing speechmarks and commas, too. He keeps missing the capitalisation for jag and wrote inquiries and not enquiries, so as you can see, there's a hell of a lot of tidying-up to do here. It did make the reading pretty arduous at times and that's not a good thing.
I did chuckle at the 'Float On' mention remembering "Hi, my name is Larry" and how it always made me giggle. There were a lot of funny lines in it, though I dreaded him taking the humourous side of things too far.....
But those bloody mistakes.....water rain written instead of rainwater, we hear Bonner is dead but on the page before he was almost killed, sure quite and not quite sure, one minute he writes whisky then at other times it's whiskey, same goes for one guy's profession. One minute he's a warden and then morphs into the governor, of was used and not off. Roedean is not spelt Redean, he gave us tied and not tried and you and not your. Then "she never thought she would" should read "she thought she would never" to mean what he needs it to.
There were a LOT of words missed from sentences like he/up/the/from and then we get the added to a sentence needlessly on the same page he'd just dropped it from another sentence on !!
We had apostrophe mistakes and missing speechmarks and commas, too. He keeps missing the capitalisation for jag and wrote inquiries and not enquiries, so as you can see, there's a hell of a lot of tidying-up to do here. It did make the reading pretty arduous at times and that's not a good thing.
August 31, 2014
Just once I would like to read a crime/detective novel where everything wasn't such a cliche. Detective haunted by his past? Check. Irish detective with drinking problem? Double check. Not everyone who's Irish drinks you know! Trouble with his love-life? Triple check.
Not an author or detective I'll be reading again.
Not an author or detective I'll be reading again.
August 14, 2015
I am so pleased to have discovered another great author. Mark Pearson writes such good thrillers I just can't turn the pages quickly enough and sleep becomes of lesser importance. The details are gruesome and he doesn't hold back on his descriptions of stomach-turning crime scenes. Love it, love it, love it!!!!
August 2, 2013
A conventional thriller - but who's complaining
December 24, 2014
Good thriller. Not sure whether I liked Jack Delaney but eventually got hooked by the story and couldn't wait to find the outcome.
July 5, 2023
1st book from this author for me. I really enjoyed it.
I did feel like maybe there was another book before this as it had previous references to another story, but it tied in OK without having to read the other first.
It only lost a star as sometimes the story would change to another scene where I thought the story might continue and it got a little confusing.
Also, it had an interesting lay out, one I've not come across before. Rather than chapters, it had days, which were extremely long but it had plenty of places to pause if you can't read it all in one go. It actually made me want to carry on reading.
I will be looking for more books from this author.
I did feel like maybe there was another book before this as it had previous references to another story, but it tied in OK without having to read the other first.
It only lost a star as sometimes the story would change to another scene where I thought the story might continue and it got a little confusing.
Also, it had an interesting lay out, one I've not come across before. Rather than chapters, it had days, which were extremely long but it had plenty of places to pause if you can't read it all in one go. It actually made me want to carry on reading.
I will be looking for more books from this author.
January 12, 2020
Hard going to begin with but glad I stuck with it.
August 22, 2013
After starting and finishing Pearson's first book in just over a day I started this one yesterday and have just finished it. Another enjoyable read featuring Jack Delaney who I think is a fantastic character. After finishing this I am even more confused about the abandoned publication of Pearson's latest book. Do his books just not sell or did he leave his publisher? I can't seem to find out.
Anyway, as I said in my review for Hard Evidence it is very clear that Pearson was once a television scriptwriter. His books do read like an exaggerated episode of The Bill. There are also multiple stories taking place at the same time rather than just 'policeman tries to catch the killer'. What annoyed me about the book however was that there weren't any chapters, just 'Day One', 'Day Two' and 'Epilogue'. I hate putting a book down mid-chapter but I had to here as I didn't have the time to read 50% of the book in one sitting!
In this book we find out more about Delaney and certainly a lot more about how his wife died which we first read about in book one. His relationship with Kate is explored more in this book and I have to say that I really enjoy reading about these characters. I have another book queued up to read but Pearson's third Delaney book is near the top of my to read list and I am off to search some more about why Pearson's latest book was abandoned as I want to read more from this author! Highly recommended to fans of Mark Billingham and once again the city of London was just as much a character in this book as the actual characters.
Anyway, as I said in my review for Hard Evidence it is very clear that Pearson was once a television scriptwriter. His books do read like an exaggerated episode of The Bill. There are also multiple stories taking place at the same time rather than just 'policeman tries to catch the killer'. What annoyed me about the book however was that there weren't any chapters, just 'Day One', 'Day Two' and 'Epilogue'. I hate putting a book down mid-chapter but I had to here as I didn't have the time to read 50% of the book in one sitting!
In this book we find out more about Delaney and certainly a lot more about how his wife died which we first read about in book one. His relationship with Kate is explored more in this book and I have to say that I really enjoy reading about these characters. I have another book queued up to read but Pearson's third Delaney book is near the top of my to read list and I am off to search some more about why Pearson's latest book was abandoned as I want to read more from this author! Highly recommended to fans of Mark Billingham and once again the city of London was just as much a character in this book as the actual characters.
September 30, 2010
A really well written mystery!
The story is written from different points of view, letting you enter the mind of various characters, even the smaller ones. While it could be confusing at times, this "technique" managed to give form and depth to some characters that otherwise wouldn't have been as interesting as they are in the end. Moreover, continuing to read you find out how many of those details you could have easily categorized as irrelevant were instead fundamental in resolving a particular enigma.
The fact that till the end I wasn't quite sure about who was the bad guy, get this book other points (not that I'm a professional investigator but I like to be surprised when I'm reading a mystery).
The only thing I could say as a critique to this book is that I was expecting something more from the resolving of Jack's wife case...but otherwise I really liked it!
The story is written from different points of view, letting you enter the mind of various characters, even the smaller ones. While it could be confusing at times, this "technique" managed to give form and depth to some characters that otherwise wouldn't have been as interesting as they are in the end. Moreover, continuing to read you find out how many of those details you could have easily categorized as irrelevant were instead fundamental in resolving a particular enigma.
The fact that till the end I wasn't quite sure about who was the bad guy, get this book other points (not that I'm a professional investigator but I like to be surprised when I'm reading a mystery).
The only thing I could say as a critique to this book is that I was expecting something more from the resolving of Jack's wife case...but otherwise I really liked it!
April 8, 2013
Second in the Jack Delaney series and another great read from this relatively new author.
Lots going on - personal demons are blown away and we see at the end the start of the next chapter of this damaged detectives life.
For those who enjoy their detectives to be down to earth and hard hitting, at times playing just outside the rules - this is an author you will love.
4/5 because there is always something that could have been better ...... In this case for me, I found some of the earlier parts added little and didnt take me anywhere. But now I am late for work cos I just had to read to the end!!!
Lots going on - personal demons are blown away and we see at the end the start of the next chapter of this damaged detectives life.
For those who enjoy their detectives to be down to earth and hard hitting, at times playing just outside the rules - this is an author you will love.
4/5 because there is always something that could have been better ...... In this case for me, I found some of the earlier parts added little and didnt take me anywhere. But now I am late for work cos I just had to read to the end!!!
July 13, 2013
I've not read the first in the series, but I might just go back to it. A haunted alcoholic detective - why are they all this stereotype? - with a traumatic recent history. He is persuaded to rejoin the force to try to get to the bottom of his wife's murder only to get caught up in a serial killer who has a personal vendetta! Good paced with enough twists and turns to keep things interesting, makes you want to find out what happens next. Good old fashioned escapism!
July 26, 2025
I really like Jack Delaney, he is a good guy with a few dents and a clever mind. However, like I wrote on the first book Hard Evidence it's as if I've read it a thousand times before.
(Please forgive my poor English, my excuse is I’m Swedish).
(Please forgive my poor English, my excuse is I’m Swedish).
February 11, 2010
Enjoying this series a lot.
January 8, 2014
Enjoyed this but parts seemed irrelevant at times they just didn't go anywhere.
April 24, 2011
Second in the series and maintaining the good form.
August 5, 2013
I'm still not sure about whether I enjoyed the story or not. It was a bit blah but with a good twist towards the end.
November 26, 2013
very good read...bit of a twist
May 8, 2015
Listened as an audio-book - was fantastic.
November 11, 2021
Gripping and a great read
December 20, 2010
Loved the 2nd installment with Jack Delaney
abandoned
January 22, 2012Audio CD.
April 25, 2017
yet another brilliant outing for D.I. Jack Delaney. mark pearson books are just great he heaps you from the first page until the last. I can't recommend high enough just love it.
October 19, 2017
This sounded right up my street - suspense, gore & a new detective for me to "meet", who's described as a hard-drinking maverick...just my sort of man - & another Jack to boot!
So did this Jack live up to expectations? Well it didn't grip me quite as much as I'd hoped but it wasn't down to the book lacking in bite & he'll certainly be getting a second chance.
I will be on the lookout for more in the series but this Jack isn't joining Reacher, Caffery & Nightingale on my must-read-list just yet....
So did this Jack live up to expectations? Well it didn't grip me quite as much as I'd hoped but it wasn't down to the book lacking in bite & he'll certainly be getting a second chance.
I will be on the lookout for more in the series but this Jack isn't joining Reacher, Caffery & Nightingale on my must-read-list just yet....
did-not-finish
May 16, 2019Warning against this book to animal lovers!!! Read on! I discarded this book because I do not appreciate it when authors have to resort to cruelty to animals to portray a psychopath. There are other ways and we readers are making a stand with this message: We do not find writing about cruelty to animals entertaining. In fact we find it distressing.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews