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Detective Trevor Joseph Series #1
Without Trace
Pschological crime thriller
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
87 people are currently reading
194 people want to read
About the author
Katherine John
48 books41 followersKatherine John is a pen name of the author Catrin Collier. She was born and brought up in Pontypridd and worked for a while in Europe and America before returning to her native Wales. She now lives on the Gower Peninsula near Swansea, with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
August 25, 2015
Katherine John's absorbing thriller takes us on a harrowing journey into a web of deceit and smoke screens. Dedicated and talented doctor Tim Sherringham disappears on his way to an urgent call from the hospital. Then the bodies start appearing but Tim's is not among them. This is no straightforward murder mystery but one which considers the possibilities and dangers of the brave new world we find ourselves in at the frontiers of medical research. Some of the dialogue feels a little clunky and personally I would have liked a little more background or narrative depth, so a four star rating, but a powerful page turner nevertheless. This is the first in the Trevor Joseph detective series.
August 23, 2013
I really wanted to like this. It's not a difficult read. It has a seaside setting with a creepy pier, murderous clowns, mysterious disappearances and a couple of moody sergeants, but there's an awful lot wrong with it.
For a start, where is it supposed to be set? Somewhere on the English coast, but I'm buggered if I can work out where. It must be near London because there is a connection between London and the investigation. As far as I can see, no place names are mentioned and there are no regional references to go by.
Another problem I had was that I found it very difficult to care about any of these people. Apart from Sergeant Trevor Joseph, who seems inoffensive enough but a little underdeveloped as a character, the rest of the novel's population are quite unlikeable, and I felt it impossible to feel sorry for any of them. The police procedural process is all a bit vague.
The final reason is - without giving anything away - that the denouement, in which all is revealed is not only far too hurried, but doesn't make an awful lot of sense.
I'm hoping that Joseph's character will develop as the series progresses, and that we might be given a clue as to where he is actually based.
For a start, where is it supposed to be set? Somewhere on the English coast, but I'm buggered if I can work out where. It must be near London because there is a connection between London and the investigation. As far as I can see, no place names are mentioned and there are no regional references to go by.
Another problem I had was that I found it very difficult to care about any of these people. Apart from Sergeant Trevor Joseph, who seems inoffensive enough but a little underdeveloped as a character, the rest of the novel's population are quite unlikeable, and I felt it impossible to feel sorry for any of them. The police procedural process is all a bit vague.
The final reason is - without giving anything away - that the denouement, in which all is revealed is not only far too hurried, but doesn't make an awful lot of sense.
I'm hoping that Joseph's character will develop as the series progresses, and that we might be given a clue as to where he is actually based.
August 25, 2013
quite a page turner but complicated in places as well.
so many characters and a few red herrings thrown in too.
Basically a doctor goes missing and then a couple of murders occur and the story focuses on two police officers trying to get to the bottom of it along with the missing doctors wife.
I liked it but not enough to read the next in the series
so many characters and a few red herrings thrown in too.
Basically a doctor goes missing and then a couple of murders occur and the story focuses on two police officers trying to get to the bottom of it along with the missing doctors wife.
I liked it but not enough to read the next in the series
October 2, 2016
This story has more twists and turns than a roller-coaster, and every one of them has you sat with your hand over your mouth, it has so much crammed into the pages, that you keep needing to come up for air, because each new twist has you reeling; A brilliant story, and if you are a crime book reader you will absolutely love this.
July 29, 2024
This was a very disturbing book but excellently written.
Set around a missing person case, the story involves homeless people, the declining NHS, medical ethics, and greed.
When Daisy’s husband goes missing, she is distraught. Eventually, she reports his absence to the police. Both Daisy and Tim, her husband, are doctors at the local NHS hospital. Daisy’s closest friends are also doctors at the hospital. They try to support her through this distressing time.
Tim’s older brother, Richard, is also a doctor. He is the owner of a private clinic that caterers to the rich and wealthy. Richard is overbearing and controlling. When Tim goes missing, Richard uses his connections to have senior police officers investigate.
The ending is a tad bizarre and a little unbelievable. However, it did keep me riveted through to the end.
Set around a missing person case, the story involves homeless people, the declining NHS, medical ethics, and greed.
When Daisy’s husband goes missing, she is distraught. Eventually, she reports his absence to the police. Both Daisy and Tim, her husband, are doctors at the local NHS hospital. Daisy’s closest friends are also doctors at the hospital. They try to support her through this distressing time.
Tim’s older brother, Richard, is also a doctor. He is the owner of a private clinic that caterers to the rich and wealthy. Richard is overbearing and controlling. When Tim goes missing, Richard uses his connections to have senior police officers investigate.
The ending is a tad bizarre and a little unbelievable. However, it did keep me riveted through to the end.
September 7, 2018
Rather disappointed with this book. The plot had all the elements of an exciting mystery, but it just wasn’t executed very well. It was a bit boring and slow. I felt the timeline was confused, I was never sure what happened when or if it could have. The plot also doesn’t feel authentic for time it was set in for example there was no cctv evidence or mobile phone tracing. I know the book was written in the 1980s then badly modernised in 2000s. The book feels much older than trying to be, like the characters drinking and smoking shocking and inappropriate. I also didn’t care about any of the characters. I’ll not bother with any more from this series.
March 9, 2025
This was an interesting read, but I did get confused a few times regarding which character was which.
Obviously it was meant to be vague to keep with the thriller vibe but I would have preferred a bit more info on each of the characters.
The ending was a bit of a twist.
Though I did like this story I wouldn't reread it a second time.
Obviously it was meant to be vague to keep with the thriller vibe but I would have preferred a bit more info on each of the characters.
The ending was a bit of a twist.
Though I did like this story I wouldn't reread it a second time.
October 26, 2018
lots of twists and turns. a doctor, a husband, a brother disappears. a ransom is paid. clowns are involved - yes i said clowns. the police struggle to find clues. this book will keep you guessing till the end
July 16, 2019
This book was such an awesome read. The plot well thought out and executed in the writing. The characters were unique in their own way. Twist surprising a real page turner. My first time reading from this author and it surely will not be my last.
December 14, 2017
A good mystery. It seemed to me the plot rambled, but it all worked out.
July 10, 2018
A promising young surgeon goes missing. Sergeants Joseph and Collins are looking for him. They uncover some increasingly odd goings on in the search, and some barely credible medical situations.
November 12, 2018
Tensely written, and so intriguing.
March 21, 2014
I'd heard good things about this series but I'll not be bothering with any more after this one, I'm afraid. Way too many mistakes throughout and the story headed off into the realms of total fantasy as it neared the end. I have to be able to partly believe what I'm reading as I don't "do" fanciful stuff at all. So all in all I was pretty disappointed.
A couple of times I was added into sentences for no reason I could see and pretty much every single time the author used italics the ensuing word was tacked straight on with no space.(Forthe/Lancetand) It happened the whole way through and irritated the hell out of me.
Born was used instead of borne, speechmarks were missing, apostrophes misused, I've never seen inflection spelt as inflexion. A big ouch was suddenly altering a character's surname from Dart to Fellows. Totally out of the blue and so careless it made me gasp !!
The story started as an interesting one but then I found I was struggling to pick it up again each time. I wasn't really enjoying it, if I'm honest and as I say, I just have no idea why on earth it took the direction it did.
A couple of times I was added into sentences for no reason I could see and pretty much every single time the author used italics the ensuing word was tacked straight on with no space.(Forthe/Lancetand) It happened the whole way through and irritated the hell out of me.
Born was used instead of borne, speechmarks were missing, apostrophes misused, I've never seen inflection spelt as inflexion. A big ouch was suddenly altering a character's surname from Dart to Fellows. Totally out of the blue and so careless it made me gasp !!
The story started as an interesting one but then I found I was struggling to pick it up again each time. I wasn't really enjoying it, if I'm honest and as I say, I just have no idea why on earth it took the direction it did.
June 23, 2013
Very good writing. Complex and engaging characters. A thrilling plot with lots of twists and turns. Red herrings and misdirection lead the reader on a very satisfying mystery chase, some characters are convinced that TIm is still alive, while others are equally convinced that he is dead. The story begins with a doctor getting called in on an emergency early in the morning. He never arrives at the hospital and that is the beginning of what begins as a missing person case and ends in multiple homicides. Not for the squeamish, some graphic violence and descriptions of bodies/parts, but that is not just done for effect. It is definitely core to the story.
The characters reactions are very realistic and run the gamut just as normal human reactions would. The climax is thrilling and although I suspected there was something “wrong” with the character who ends up being involved in the crimes, I didn’t know exactly what was wrong.
A great start to a new-to-me series. Highly recommended to readers of very dark mysteries.
The characters reactions are very realistic and run the gamut just as normal human reactions would. The climax is thrilling and although I suspected there was something “wrong” with the character who ends up being involved in the crimes, I didn’t know exactly what was wrong.
A great start to a new-to-me series. Highly recommended to readers of very dark mysteries.
February 11, 2022
Dreadful
Recommended by a friend whose reading tastes are very similar to mine, it’s been absolute agony for me to read and finish this book.
It patently obvious that no research had been carried out into Police procedure nor legislation which would be, I’d suggest, a minimum requirement when two of the main characters are Detective Sergeants.
The dialogue was appalling - no one could actually say anything without it being said ‘cuttingly’, ‘sadly’, ‘firmly’, ‘angrily’ etc.
Unfortunately, this is the first of what appears to be a series of books revolving around Sergeant Trevor Joseph, and even what’s even more unfortunate is that I’d bought and downloaded books 1 and 2 on recommendation alone.
I love a good detective novel.
This isn’t one.
And book 2 will be shelved without even bothering to open it.
Dire.
Recommended by a friend whose reading tastes are very similar to mine, it’s been absolute agony for me to read and finish this book.
It patently obvious that no research had been carried out into Police procedure nor legislation which would be, I’d suggest, a minimum requirement when two of the main characters are Detective Sergeants.
The dialogue was appalling - no one could actually say anything without it being said ‘cuttingly’, ‘sadly’, ‘firmly’, ‘angrily’ etc.
Unfortunately, this is the first of what appears to be a series of books revolving around Sergeant Trevor Joseph, and even what’s even more unfortunate is that I’d bought and downloaded books 1 and 2 on recommendation alone.
I love a good detective novel.
This isn’t one.
And book 2 will be shelved without even bothering to open it.
Dire.
September 14, 2015
Generally a good plot but the events were tough to follow, mostly because the dialogue is predominately British and the murder investigation is quite boring. The progress and the dialogue are a bit mundane and because the progress is so boring it is tough to follow. I was going to stop reading and go to another book but the thought of wasting money on an e book kept me reading. I thought the book was free from Amazon Prime but I got caught in the small print and had to pay more than I wanted for this book. I'm glad I stuck it out because I got to see how the pieces all fit together in the end. Still, a bit far fetched. There are so many loose ends that aren't addressed, or resolved. I think with a good editor this good have been a first class murder mystery.
November 23, 2013
i've found another author to add to my list. This is book one, i've now got book 2, 3 and 4 ready to read.
Enjoyable with twists and turns.
Doctors at the local hospital Tim and Daisy Sherringham are blissfully happy. The perfect couple.
When an emergency call rouses Tim early one morning, he vanishes on the way from their flat to the hospital and Daisy is plunged into a nightmare of terror and doubt .
In the chilly half-light of dawn a bizarre pierrot figure waits in the shadows of a deserted stretch of motorway. The costumed hitchhiker’s victim is a passing motorist. The murder, cold-blooded, brutal. Without motive.
Enjoyable with twists and turns.
Doctors at the local hospital Tim and Daisy Sherringham are blissfully happy. The perfect couple.
When an emergency call rouses Tim early one morning, he vanishes on the way from their flat to the hospital and Daisy is plunged into a nightmare of terror and doubt .
In the chilly half-light of dawn a bizarre pierrot figure waits in the shadows of a deserted stretch of motorway. The costumed hitchhiker’s victim is a passing motorist. The murder, cold-blooded, brutal. Without motive.
June 28, 2013
Sgt. Trevor Joseph and his partner are working the case of a missing doctor,recently married and missing without a trace. His attraction for the missing doctor's wife can't be hidden, as he risks his life to find the truth. As the police investigate the sightings of clowns on the motorway, people gone missing and the evidence piles up without making sense. The story gets a bit wordy for several until the truth is revealed and the killer is discovered. Even with the wordiness the story is a good one, worth your time.
January 19, 2015
I enjoyed reading this, although I felt it had some big flaws in terms of the plot, things like the likelihood of both police officers involved being injured so close together, and Joseph's relationship with Daisy. That said it was easy to read and despite hating clowns I wasn't out off by the criminal clowns. Knowing there were more books in the series destroyed the uncertainty over Joseph's survival and the twist in terms of who was behind the whole scenario was easily guessable, but I still enjoyed the read enough to give a good star rating.
January 9, 2021
Absolutely brilliant, I was glued to this story from beginning to end and, unusually, I didn’t guess who did it!
Genuinely an excellent, fast paced page turner.
I really like Trevor Joseph and am looking forward to reading more of his future cases alongside the oddly likeable Collins.
One lose end I did find was that Sam Mayberry, the priest who ran the hostel, didn’t seem to have any repercussions for his part in acquiring suitable candidates for the clinics extra curricular procedures.
I can’t wait to start reading Midnight Murders.
Genuinely an excellent, fast paced page turner.
I really like Trevor Joseph and am looking forward to reading more of his future cases alongside the oddly likeable Collins.
One lose end I did find was that Sam Mayberry, the priest who ran the hostel, didn’t seem to have any repercussions for his part in acquiring suitable candidates for the clinics extra curricular procedures.
I can’t wait to start reading Midnight Murders.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 28, 2012
First in a series with unlikely police hero, Trevor Joseph. Joseph, normally assigned to the drugs squad, gets involved in a missing person case when Doctor Tim Sherringham answers an early morning call but doesn’t show up at the hospital. Meanwhile, a killer dressed in a Pierrot costume is on the rampage.
An unusual storyline with plenty of intrigue, plot twists, and some interesting characters.
An unusual storyline with plenty of intrigue, plot twists, and some interesting characters.
June 26, 2015
I truly enjoyed this book and so will you!!!
This was a very unusual mystery novel, the twists and turns kept you guessing through the entire book and even though I was not a fan of detective Collins I admired his tenacity and ability to get to the nitty gritty of an investigation. I also love his devotion to his partner. This is a must read.
This was a very unusual mystery novel, the twists and turns kept you guessing through the entire book and even though I was not a fan of detective Collins I admired his tenacity and ability to get to the nitty gritty of an investigation. I also love his devotion to his partner. This is a must read.
June 21, 2016
This is the first in the book series revolving around Detective Trevor Joseph and his partner.
The opening chapter certainly grabs your attention when a Pierrot clown murders someone in their car and the story continues with unauthorised brain cell research. I am looking forward to the next book of Katherine John
The opening chapter certainly grabs your attention when a Pierrot clown murders someone in their car and the story continues with unauthorised brain cell research. I am looking forward to the next book of Katherine John
April 12, 2013
This book starts with the disappearance of a hospital doctor, but soon becomes three separate mysteries. Slowly the mystery comes together with the help of the two detectives, one almost loosing his life. A twist at the end made the book more intriguing .
On to the next in the series.
On to the next in the series.
July 16, 2015
A mystery up to the very end
I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a mystery. It's filled with plots and subplots right to the very end.
I didn't care for the English terms used to describe police officers.
It did keep my attention to the end in just 2 continuous reading sessions.
I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a mystery. It's filled with plots and subplots right to the very end.
I didn't care for the English terms used to describe police officers.
It did keep my attention to the end in just 2 continuous reading sessions.
November 15, 2015
Interesting!!
I found that this book was one that pulled you in at the start and then dragged in some places. I just found it too be some what disjointed, the ending was totally a surprise. I not sure if I would recommend it to anyone.
I found that this book was one that pulled you in at the start and then dragged in some places. I just found it too be some what disjointed, the ending was totally a surprise. I not sure if I would recommend it to anyone.
January 24, 2016
Awsome!!
This book was such an awesome read. The plot well thought out and executed in the writing. The characters were unique in their own way. Twist surprising a real page turner. My first time reading from this author and it surely will not be my last.
This book was such an awesome read. The plot well thought out and executed in the writing. The characters were unique in their own way. Twist surprising a real page turner. My first time reading from this author and it surely will not be my last.
February 22, 2016
If this was a soap opera it would be one with the wonky sets that move
If this was a soap opera it would be one with the wonky sets that move . The next in series couldn't be worse - could it? Will give e them a miss
If this was a soap opera it would be one with the wonky sets that move . The next in series couldn't be worse - could it? Will give e them a miss
December 11, 2016
Wow
Never saw that coming! From the first page to the last I was hooked. I can't wait to download the next in the series. Kudos to Katherine JOHN!!! I now have a another new favorite author.
Never saw that coming! From the first page to the last I was hooked. I can't wait to download the next in the series. Kudos to Katherine JOHN!!! I now have a another new favorite author.
November 12, 2019
A chiller at its best
A chilling ta!e gruesome at times but it had to be read it held your mind a nd made you wonder who was the gruesome killer and the reason why Katherine John at her best
A chilling ta!e gruesome at times but it had to be read it held your mind a nd made you wonder who was the gruesome killer and the reason why Katherine John at her best
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews