The man on hackpen hill

DI Silas Hart #3

by J.S. Monroe

'Original and brilliantly plotted, with not so much a twist but a seismic shifting of the ground under your feet ... Amazing' Rosamund LuptonAn original, intelligent and twisty thriller set in rural Wiltshire. A dead body in a crop circle sends a coded message. Can DI Silas Hart uncover the chilling truth before it's too late?It isn't unusual for crop circles to appear overnight on Hackpen Hill. In this part of Wiltshire, where golden wheat fields stretch for miles, the locals have got used to discovering strange mathematical patterns stamped into the earth.But this time, it's different. Not only because this particular design of dramatic spiralling hexagons has never been seen before. But because of the dead body positioned precisely in the centre of the circle. DI Silas Hart, of Swindon Police, is at a loss.Only Jim, a scientist at secretive government laboratory Porton Down, knows the chilling truth about the man on Hackpen Hill. And he wants Bella, a trainee journalist on her first ever story, to tell the world. But Silas has other ideas – and a boss intent on a cover up.As Bella and Jim race against time, dark forces conspire against them, leading them to confront the reality of their own past and a world in which nothing is as it seems.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Audiobook, Crime, Whodunit, Psychological Thriller

464 pages, Paperback

Published July 1, 2022

About the author

J.S.Monroe is the pseudonym of British writer Jon Stock, author of The Sleep Room and Dead Spy Running. As J.S.Monroe, he is the author of five psychological thrillers, including the international bestseller, Find Me, which has been translated into 14 languages. Dead Spy Running was optioned by Warner Bros. The Sleep Room, his first non-fiction book, is about the British psychiatrist Dr William Sargant, and was published in the UK (Little, Brown) in April 2025 and in America (Abrams) in July 2025. It is currently being developed for TV.

His Last Patient, Jon’s new psychological thriller, will be published in August 2026 (Head of Zeus). When a man arrives at Swindon police station declaring it's his 'death day' before taking his own life, DI Silas Hart is shaken. Days later, another man dies in similar circumstances, a small hourglass lying beside him the only evidence police have to work with.

The trail leads Hart to disgraced psychiatrist Dr Garstan, whose controversial research claims to predict the moment of death. Both victims were his patients - but what really happened to them?

No Place to Hide, Jon's previous thriller, was published by Head of Zeus (Bloomsbury) in April 2023 and came out in paperback in March 2024. A standalone, contemporary novel set in London, Wiltshire and Cornwall, it's a loose retelling of Christopher Marlowe’s Dr Faustus. “Clever, convincing and wickedly twisty - Highly recommended,” according to Mick Herron. "Compelling, relentless and genuinely frightening," says Simon Russell Beale. "A must-read for psychological thriller fans."

The Man On Hackpen Hill (Head of Zeus, 2021,) was the third J.S.Monroe thriller to feature DI Silas Hart (head of Swindon CID) and DS Strover. "Original and brilliantly plotted, with not so much a twist as a seismic shifting of the ground under your feet ... Amazing." - Rosamund Lupton; “Impeccably researched… An unusual mystery told with exceptional skill” – Daily Mail; “A kind of Wiltshire Da Vinci Code, with crop circles, mathematical equations and shadowy figures from Porton Down. A real page turner.” – Tom Bradby.

The Other you (Head of Zeus, 2020) was the second in Jon's DI Hart series. "I doubt many other psychological thrillers published this year will be as propulsive and fun" - Daily Telegraph; "A clever mash-up of psychological thriller and police procedural with a dash of sci-fi" - Daily Mail; "You won't be able to turn the pages fast enough" - Heat Magazine; "Brilliantly original and intriguing ... Kept me hooked, enthralled and guessing to the very end" - Peter James.

Forget My Name (Head of Zeus, 2018) was the first thriller to feature DI Hart. It was published in America as The Last Thing She Remembers (HarperCollins, 2018). “An absorbing novel full of unexpected twists, topped by a savage climax” – The Times; “A book that will send thrills down your spine, even on the hottest beach” – Sunday Express.

Find Me (Head of Zeus, 2017), Jon's first J.S.Monroe thriller, was a standalone set in London, Cornwall, Cambridge and Norfolk. It has sold more than 150,000 copies and been translated into 14 languages. “Intricately woven and heart-stoppingly believable, this has bestseller written all over it” – Clare Mackintosh; “The most ingenious thriller you will read his year.” –M.J.Arlidge. "Cunning, captivating and creepy" – JP Delaney.

Dead Spy Running (HarperCollins, 2009) has been published in five languages and was the first in the Daniel Marchant Trilogy. It was followed by Games Traitors Play and Dirty Little Secret (2012). The movie rights to Dead Spy Running were acquired in 2008 by Warner Bros and the film was later in development with the director McG. Oscar-winner Stephen Gaghan wrote the original script.

Reviews

[Ceecee · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up.

Bella leaves a small Oxford College after studying for three years, she senses there’s something wrong as her mother drives her home but she can not grasp what it could be. She starts work experience at a newspaper and is sent a mysterious letter telling her to go to ‘The Slaughtered Lamb’ pub in Wiltshire. There she meets Jim Matthews who works at Porton Down. Coincidentally, maybe, DI Silas Hart is summoned to a complex crop circle below Hackpen Hill where a dead body of a young man lies in the centre. The story is told from these three perspectives.

This is an extremely good combination of a police investigation with an excellent thriller element. It’s an incredibly well researched book and though the maths, science and medical science goes over the top of my head to a certain extent it gives a great feeling of authenticity to the novel. The plot is a very clever puzzle with crop circles, their codes, patterns and cryptic messages, spooks, the secretive world of Porton Down with chemical warfare and experimentation and it also examines treatments for mental illness such as schizophrenia. This may sound busy but in fact it dovetails really well and forms a cohesive, intelligent and fast paced plot. I like the short sharp chapters which add to the tension as the case deepens and becomes a real challenge to them all. The characters are very good and the author gives us a good blend of an exciting storyline combined with the personal stories of all three. DC Strover is a really good and immensely knowledgeable sidekick to Silas. There is some powerful imagery throughout the storytelling which keeps you fascinated with no desire to put the book down! It all builds well to a believable conclusion and I like how the end is imperfect and not tied neatly in a bow.

Overall, this is a compelling and absorbing read. It does veer towards the dark side at times and on occasion it shocks as it should and it makes you feel sadness for the victims of an audacious and unscrupulous plan.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Head of Zeus for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

[Margaret M - (having a challenging time and on GR as much as I can) · Rating 3 out of 5]

What setting could be more intriguing, and perfect, for a novel involving conspiracy theories, controversial human testing, coded messages, and the crop circle killings than the UK’s notorious chemical facility at Porton Down. A government funded organisation housing the country's top scientists who carry out research into the world's most dangerous pathogens.

The story is narrated by three people Sila, Bella and Jim, and dives straight into the death of the first victim in the opening pages. An almost ritualistic murder where the body is staged and left in the centre of a convoluted diagram stamped into the wheat fields with strange mathematical patterns, and dramatic spiralling hexagons in concentric circles. Let me strip it back to basics, someone is trying to send a coded message, but of what and who can solve the puzzle, is the basis of the riddle.

We follow the events and the lives of the three main protagonists, as the story moves at pace. Jim is a scientist at the government's Porton Down laboratory, but is being followed by MI5, and is disturbed by the ever-present black Range Rover near his home and everywhere he travels. So, he enlists the help from Bella, a trainee journalist seeking to print her first ever story, and reveals all to her. But with deaths mounting, the story is no longer about one man’s conscience, instead it becomes a murder investigation into a different kind of killer who leaves unusual chemical traces and bodies evidently frozen for months. But all is not as it seems, as some of the characters appear to live in a delusional world detached from reality, whilst their minds are manipulated to the point, they no longer know who and what they are.

I tried to understand the relevance of the complex mathematical equations and coded messages, that were described in some depth, only to find out at the end of the book that they have very little relevance to the story and just made the plot more elaborate and convoluted than it needed to be. Which will put some readers off. So, if you plan to read this novel, take the imagery and coded messages as symbolic. There is enough complexity in the novel to keep you going.

I am a huge fan of riddles, puzzles, and love to unravel a mystery which had me interested in the book, however, this was way too convoluted when it did not add to the storyline. Nevertheless, the concept was original, and the setting was just right for a complex and gripping thriller.

A little piece of trivia. Twenty thousand human guinea pigs have passed through Porton Down since the place was founded in 1916 and its volunteer programme is very much ongoing. However, the testing is not just focused on trials for things like chemical warfare but also includes testing and experiments for mental health conditions such as Schizophrenia and Psychosis.

[Stace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com

The Man on Hackpen Hill features all manner of unusual incidents including bodies in crop circles, hidden messages, conspiracy theories, and military human testing.

The opening scene in which a woman believes that she can fly sets up the book nicely for what turns out to be a strange case for the detectives.

The book is told from three points of view – DI Silas Hart, the main detective in the crop circle bodies case, a want-to-be journalist Bella who has just returned home from Oxford University where her best friend has been admitted to a mental hospital, and Jim Matthews who works at Porton Down a government-funded organisation where research into the world’s most dangerous pathogens is carried out.

The plot is full-on from the very first page to the last and some scenes were quite intense. This was a book I couldn’t rush through as it took some concentration to keep up with what was happening and the mathematical equations and hidden messages.

The characters were easy to get to know and understand. I liked some more than others. Bella’s mother certainly fell into the other category as she kept secrets from her daughter and didn’t believe in her.

The Man on Hackpen Hill is a very twisty tale. You just about think you understand and know which direction everything is heading and bam, another twist and you are back to square one. The twists and turns do keep you on the edge of your seat though and intrigued.

If you like thrillers that make you think and give your brain a workout then this certainly is the book to pick up.

[Yvonne G · Rating 5 out of 5]

“A dead body in a crop circle sends a coded message”


I haven’t read too many of the flurry of post Coronavirus pandemic books, as I just know that some are going to be much better than others – but boy oh boy! This has to be one of the best!!

I deliberately chose to download this one, first and foremost, because I have to admit that I had a vested interest in this story long before I even opened the cover on my Kindle. It is set in a location I know so well, having been born and raised in Swindon, a mere couple of miles from Hackpen Hill. When we were first married we lived up on the edge of the Cotswolds, so Oxford was our local ‘stamping ground’. We now live just as close in the opposite direction and within a virtual stones throw of Porton Down, near to Salisbury. I therefore found myself trying to catch the author out with his continuity of place names and journey times, but this storyline has been so well researched and authentically presented, with an obvious enthusiasm that doesn’t take prisoners, so there was not much chance of me finding fault, leaving me able to enjoy a lovely trip down memory lane, although the Swindon Police HQ has been relocated to Gable Cross since I moved away and is no longer a central feature and deterrent in the heart of the town.

Those were about the only parts which were lovely though, as this story hit the ground running from those very first opening lines, with the action and suspense being relentless right until the last, when an ending which was carefully considered, gently brought down the pace and offered peace and hope for the future, for Bella and Jim. Some short, punchy chapters kept the gathering momentum of the storyline evenly paced and fluid; seen, heard and told as it was, through the eyes, ears and voices of the three main protagonists, Bella, Jim and DI Silas Hart.

Crop circles have formed a large and important part of the narrative of the Wiltshire landscape from as far back as I can remember, including the wrath and ire they invoke within the local farming community, for the damage and havoc they can wreak on a crop. Also, having a husband who is ex-military, the concept of the Porton Down “£15 help us find a cure for the common cold” which used to be offered to serving service personnel, is legendary! However, this book raises the game of both strands of local folklore, to a totally different, elevated and nauseatingly twisted level, then deftly weaves them together, with the addition of an unscrupulous US pharmaceutical company, into a tale of chilling proportions, which plays with the minds and emotions of protagonists and readers alike. Nothing is what it seems in the distorted reality of this disparate cast of characters and it is left to DI Silas Hart and DC Strover to unravel fact from fiction, truth from lie, reality from imagination, as they try to bust open a cartel which has already destroyed so many lives. I wonder if perhaps in these times of the whistle-blower culture , a beleaguered Porton Down might, on this occasion, come away with some of its reputation and code of ethics as a protector of the country, intact?

Supremely dark and intensely multi-faceted; wonderfully researched and authentic; compelling and gripping; sympathetically nuanced and told with real heart. The immersive qualities an author who is skilled in the imagery of words and the art of storytelling can engender, makes reading this book both a delight and a troubling experience, at one and the same time. A penetrating and profoundly touching study in human behaviour, encompassing mental health issues and the power of drug induced mind manipulation, whilst never loosing sight of the overarching crime thriller storyline at its core.

The author has created a cast of characters, which aside from the Swindon CID team, are definitely not what they seem to all outward appearances, but I dare you spot the anomalies and join up all the dots. So well have they all been drawn and defined, so genuinely believable, so raw and passionate, they totally had me fooled, right until the bitter end. Complex, emotionally damaged, desperately driven by imagined and instilled beliefs and reactions, all of which made them difficult to relate to or invest in, until unfolding events turn everything on its head and the devastation wrought by an unscrupulous few individuals becomes terrifyingly apparent, to them and me.

Oh! and the ‘locals’ in the village pub, ‘The Slaughtered Lamb’ (not the real name of a pub in this area from what I can ascertain, but I would love to know on which establishment it is based) are probably quite fairly representative of this rural, insular corner of the county, although perhaps I shouldn’t admit to that and I defy most people to find it anything other than a struggle to relate or become engaged with them, they do have their own particularly unique customs and ‘quirky’ ways!

Hart and Strover are a new team of detectives to the world of crime fiction, but to my thinking, they really do warrant and demand a series of their own, so well do they gel and work together. Keen to encourage his young protegee, in a CID section he considers to be too male dominated, Hart not only gives a methodical, process driven and ‘nerdy’ Strover a free reign during the course of the investigation, but he also refreshingly, finds himself actually listening, being informed and acting on, her attention to detail. As the investigation progresses, it does transpire that Hart has more than a purely professional interest in this case, which sets his policing and parental responsibilities, rather at odds with each other. Happily, they do not collide too spectacularly and the outcome should also help his family get back on track, as like all fictional detectives, he does carry an inordinate amount of emotional baggage and leads a complicated and turbulent home life.

From a purely personal point of view, part of the joy of reading, is the unique and individual journey a book takes me on and The Man On Hackpen Hill, is so much more than a daring crime thriller – Where will your journey take you?

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Man on Hackpen Hill is the captivating and compulsive second instalment in the DI Silas Hart series set against the backdrop of bucolic Wiltshire. When intricately patterned crop circles come into existence almost overnight in and around the plentiful wheat fields of Wiltshire, they appear to spell out the names of complex chemical compounds or perhaps something more esoteric. But that isn't the only reason they have been noticed over and above the rest; the body of a young male has been discovered dead in the centre of the maze of wheat and Detective Inspector Hart and his faithful colleague, Strover, are the ones called to the unusual crime scene to look for answers. They soon realise that this is much more serious than the usual harmless abstract artwork and that perhaps someone is sending an obscure message.

As the investigation deepens it moves into possible multilayered conspiracies and accusations probing the type of clandestine work carried out at the British-based military research facility known as Porton Down near Salisbury. Meanwhile, the second strand of the plot starts as divergent and begins to merge with the crop circle conspiracy case. It features Bella, a trainee journalist who recently graduated from a tiny Oxford-based college after studying there for the past 3 years. She is looking for her first big scoop to help her rise to prominence, so she is fascinated when she receives an enigmatic letter instructing her to go to The Slaughtered Lamb pub in Wiltshire. There she meets idiosyncratic scientist Jim Matthews who works at Porton Down and is investigating the murder, but when more bodies are discovered with the exact same modus operandi, the rumours surrounding human experimentation at the facility begin to gain traction.

What nefarious things, if any, are happening at Porton Down, and what does it have to do with the strategically planned killings? This is an enthralling, engrossing and thoroughly original contemporary thriller with plenty of action, intrigue and danger, and you can tell it has been extensively researched as it feels authentic to its core. It's easy to become immersed in all of the hi-jinx despite the switching of the perspectives between Jim, Silas and Bella, and the short, snappy chapters keep you reading long into the night. There is an intense underlying feeling of dread that emanates from the pages throughout this sinister and wickedly twisty read. It evokes memories of the Skripals' attempted assassination and features elements of conspiracy, ruthless rumour, fake news, espionage and chemical weaponry. Chilling, cleverly woven and entertaining through to the very last line. Highly recommended.

[Elaine Tomasso · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and Head of Zeus for an advance copy of The Man on Hackpen Hill, the second novel to feature DI Silas Hart of the Wiltshire police.

DI Silas Hart is called out to a new crop circle on Hackpen Hill, not an unusual event in Wiltshire but this one has a complicated design, implying chemical compounds or worse, and a dead body at its centre. While he’s investigating the murder Jim, a scientist at Porton Down, wants trainee journalist Bella to tell his story, if they can escape the men wanting “a quiet word”.

I was really looking forward to The Man on Heckpin Hill, because what’s not to like about the combination of crop circles and murder? Unfortunately it is not a good fit for my taste. For a start the novel is told from various points of view, mainly Silas, Jim and Bella, and while it is not my favourite approach to storytelling I can live with it mostly, but in this case I don’t feel that the author has the balance right. He alternates between their voices, initiates a development and promptly moves on to another voice. It is choppy and frustrating as the reader is constantly having to re-adjust their perspective to the current point of view and events. I found it impossible to get immersed in the novel or identity with any of the characters.

The novel is full of action, twists and mystery, but it soon becomes apparent that it is all about conspiracy and alleged nefarious governmental doings. The hint is in the synopsis with the mention of Porton Down and I was too dense to pick it up. (For those unfamiliar with the establishment its name is forever synonymous with the development of chemical weapons in the UK). Of course, it could all be misdirection as the reader never really feels on firm ground. It all becomes clear in the final chapters and it’s clever, but for me this final resolution doesn’t make up for awkward journey getting there.

I like Silas who appears to be a sensible man, aware of his shortcomings and not afraid to employ help when required, and well able to navigate the minefield of office politics. Jim and Bella are more problematic. They are both keeping secrets and have mystery attached to them. They appear unreliable, but maybe they’re the truth tellers - remember, conspiracy.

The Man on Hackpen Hill is not for me, so it took me days rather than hours to finish. If, however, you relish a good conspiracy novel with twists, mystery and action then this will suit you nicely.

[Cathy Geha · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Man of Hackpen Hill by JS Monroe

Cunningly complicated and complex, this story was convoluted in twisty surprising ways. D.I. Silas Hart and D.C. Strover have a curious crime to figure out in this tale of evil I fear may be all too true in real life. This is the third book Hart & Strover appear in but reading it without the previous books is easily done. That said, I did wonder about the two and wish I could remember them from the previous book though I do remember enjoying the story and wonder if they had lesser roles than the woman who lost her ability to remember faces.

What I liked:
* The crop circle messages that needed to be figured out
* Looking at the role of big pharmaceutical companies on patients through the drugs they create, the need to test them and the impact the drugs may have in the long and short run.
* Thinking about what it would have been like to be Jim, Bella, Erin, Conor or some of the others
* Thinking about what is “real” and what is not…and the realization that what might be real for me might not be real for someone else
* Being reminded that the mind is not the same in every person
* The aspects of family that Hart, Jim, and Bella had to deal with
* Wondering who might be in the big black cars and what they were up to
* Finding out who was in the big black menacing cars
* Not realizing the full truth and all of the story till it was concluded and all threads were tied up at the end
* That it stretched me and made me think

What I didn’t like:
* Exactly what I was meant not to like…people events, and all the rest
* Thinking about some of the issues in this book and wondering if they might be occurring in real time right now

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes
Note: This story has a significant amount of scientific information that will appeal to some while having other skim for the “meat” of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars

[Elizabeth King · Rating 4 out of 5]

Started reading then switched to audiobook because I was too tired to read but needed to hear more of the story.
I thought this was such a clever way to deal with themes of mental illness and treatment. I didn’t realise it was book 3 in a series until near the end although I remember noting at a few points that I’d like to know more of the backstories referred to.
The change in realities literally hurt my head at one point. I thought that was superb. I did suspect something was awry but I didn’t quite get there by myself.
The story involving bodies found in crop circles a took a while to get into but once I was hooked, there was no peace until I’d got to the end. Definitely looking for more by this author

[Kirsty ❤️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. It’s such a clever story taking us from crop circles to conspiracy theories to complex mental health issues and all wrapped around several murders. I got as little confused around some of the science and mathematics, but these are not my strong areas at all however I really did like how things were explained. It was made as easy as it could be. Any further confusion is on me.
There’s lots of twists and turns and I really didn’t see that ending coming. I’ve already got several of the authors other works lined up to read on the back of this one. Loved it.

[Carol Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. It was very different to thrillers I've read before. Some bits were more obvious than others but because of that it did keep you guessing almost to the end.
I felt it was written with some compassion for mental health issues, was well researched and will written. I found it really interesting to read about some of our more recent history and to be able to look into it for more details (not usually something I'm keen on when trying to get into a book) thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this in return for an honest review

[Gill · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great read 4.5 really! Short chapters flipping between characters in this gripping thriller, with a back drop set against crop circles, murder, Porter Down, Wiltshire! Read in a few days!

[Grace J Reviewerlady]

Here’s a novel which will give your brain a work-out!

DI Silas Hart mood plummets when his latest case involves crop circles; they are the bane of his life when a body turns up in the middle of one. Using everything at his disposal, it’s still a puzzling investigation. Jim, a scientist an Porton Down, the secret government facility, knows the truth and reaches out to Bella, trainee journalist, to help him reveal it. But Jim has to go into hiding and Bella is scared. Silas just wants to get to the truth and solve the murder, but his superiors seem keen on stopping his quest.

What a read! By the time I was three quarters way through this book, I was beginning to wonder if I was losing my mind! Twisting this way and turning the other, this is an enigmatic read which will have you questioning everything. I was completely sucked in and not just surprised but shocked as it all unravelled to reveal the truth. Absolutely riveting! Very cleverly written and skilfully plotted. 4.5* from me.

[Karen Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved The Other You when I read it last year, so have been eagerly looking forward to The Man on Hackpen Hill and I'm delighted to say that my expectations were more than met - this really is an excellent, imaginative thriller.
The sinister opening to the novel is unsettling and mysterious, with the full truth about what happens to Erin here not fully divulged until late in the book. However, there are hints throughout and it's always clear that what we are seeing isn't necessarily the full story. Erin's best friend, Bella is picked up by her mother, unaware of what has just happened inside their shared residence. She is looking forward to life after university but even at this early stage in the proceedings, there's a suggestion that Bella's memories of her time at Oxford don't necessarily reflect reality.
The Man on Hackpen Hill sees the welcome return of DI Silas Hart who is working on rebuilding his relationship with his wife but their renewed closeness is immediately put under threat by the discovery of a body in the middle of a particularly elaborate crop circle. I live in North Dorset, close to the Wiltshire border and so many of the locations in the book are familiar to me but I hadn't realised that around 80% of the UK's crop circles appear in Wiltshire. The speculation as to their origins and tension between landowners and 'croppies' are featured here but this isn't a book about the how, it's about the what and why. What is the significance of the design of the circles and the presentation of the victims - and why is somebody apparently leaving cryptic clues on the hills and fields of the county?
As the body count rises, Silas and his colleague, DC Strover realise that the circle holds many of the answers, particularly as they are unable to identify all of the victims. I really enjoy the relationship between this pair; Strover growing in confidence as Silas learns to trust her instincts as well as his own, and to open up to her a little, too. Not much is disclosed about Strover's personal life but we do discover that she is clearly a highly intelligent, insightful woman who complements Hart's more practical approach to policing well and they make a good team. Silas is under pressure; the media is predictably feverishly interested in the case, with social media awash with various conspiracy theories. Meanwhile, his personal life faces another test and his boss makes things even more difficult by warning him off investigating nearby Porton Down.
Are the circles linked to the government laboratory though? The secretive nature of the place means that it's always a target for various theories and accusations, and J.S. Monroe exploits that fear of the unknown well here. It is undoubtedly true that it does have a grim history - the death of Ronald Maddison in 1953 is mentioned - but could it really be linked to murder?
Jim certainly thinks so and he should know; as he explains to Bella when they meet in a pub, he has worked there and on secondment to an affiliated facility at Harwell Science and Innovation Campus and he is convinced of a cover-up. He also knows the risks he takes as a whistle-blower but as it becomes clear that both he and Bella are being pursued, there are questions raised about his true role in everything. Both Bella and Jim are hugely likeable characters and I couldn't help but root for the pair of them, despite having increasing doubts about their respective pasts and why they have been brought together.
This is an intricately woven story and with the chapters shared between Silas, Bella and Jim, the truth is revealed gradually - a glimpse here, a hint there - while the tension rises inexorably as it becomes obvious that there are some devious and very dangerous people involved in this puzzling mystery. With its discussions about binary representations, ASCII codes, chemical formulas and ciphers, The Man on Hackpen Hill is an intelligent, unnerving exploration of what science in the wrong hands is capable of. However, it's also an intriguing and moving look at resilience, mental health and ethics. Crime fiction which features Maths and Chemistry might sound a little daunting but although there are some difficult concepts discussed here, the reader learns alongside Silas. There's nothing mentioned which will prevent anybody from understanding or enjoying this compelling, original thriller where almost nothing is quite as it initially seems, and the real explanation for the crop circles and murders is both horrific and heartbreaking.
I read The Man on Hackpen Hill in a few hours, which should give you some indication of what an absorbing, compulsive read it is. Astute, chillingly ingenious and with a pacy, propulsive plot that meant I couldn't put it down, I loved every word and highly recommend it.

[Elite Group · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a cracking good read!

DI Silas Hart promised his wife that he would pay more attention to their marriage. He’s in a yoga class with his wife when his mobile rings. It’s his colleague DC Strover, reporting that a naked body has been found in the middle of a crop circle and needs him to return to Gablecross police station in Swindon where he is head of the CID.

Two further crop circles appear – again with bodies in their centres and again the circles seem to hold mathematical equations for highly dangerous drugs. What Hart and Strover can’t ascertain is whether the drugs are stored at Porton Down or could there be something more sinister at play.

Bella is very excited when her mother fetches her from her Oxford college after graduation. She is even more excited when she manages to get an internship at a leading newspaper. Bella’s father had been a famous journalist and she wants to follow in his footsteps. When a note arrives suggesting that there is a big story for her to “crack” Bella can’t resist the challenge and sets off to meet her contact.

Jim who claims he works at Porton Down is the contact. He is soon caught up in the crop circle case, making Bella also part of the investigation. He sees the formulas written in the circle.

I’m a crop circle follower. I wait with bated breath each year as the season starts to see what is going to appear and if not too far from where I live, get to the circle to inspect it. JS Monroe ticked every box to ensure that I would not put the novel down until I finished. Crop Circles, murders, math formulas and conspiracy theories. I couldn’t have asked for a more tailored novel for my interest. To add to the enjoyment, were characters who were all extremely well drawn so that you the reader, could get to know them well. The twist in the storyline is also brilliant.

Thank you, JS Monroe, – The Man on Hackpen Hill was one of my best reads in 2021. Whether I’ll ever look at a crop circle through rosy coloured glasses again remains to be seen.

Rony

Elite Reviewing Group received a copy of the book to review.

[Elanor Lawrence · Rating 3 out of 5]

THE MAN ON HACKPEN HILL is a fairly standard thriller/police procedural, with a few unusual elements that add interest to the story, but also stretch the novel beyond belief. The presence of crop circles and conspiracy theories was intriguing, but constant references to Porton Down and nerve agents got a little wearying after awhile. Also, the focus on slightly less "policey" topics like mental health was a helpful distinguishing feature for this novel but it meant that the actual police investigation lost its interest.

Despite some attempts to give the characters depth (the main detective is working through marriage counselling with his wife, for instance) they felt quite cliché for the most part. The female characters, in particular, lacked interest, sometimes to the point of sexism. The detective's sidekick was a woman who was made out at every turn to be intelligent and hardworking, yet when the detective gives her the chance to run a briefing (which is completely unimportant from a story perspective) he does so because he thinks it's important to give women a chance, not because she's obviously more than qualified to do something so basic as a briefing.

The overall plot felt simultaneously dull and over-the-top. Throughout the story I felt consistently confused about why certain things were happening (like when Bella decides to trust Jim, this random guy she's just met, rather than the police) but the big twist at the end only made things make less sense. The rationale behind the crop circles is simply unbelievable, and the big revelation of what's really going on moved the novel from police procedural into something else entirely. I love a good ending twist that pulls everything together, but this wasn't it.

There's more I could discuss, like how the consistent references to Covid-19 make this novel feel dated within months of its release, but I think my general impressions of this novel are clear. It's a decent novel for those who enjoy detective novels with a conspiracy-theory type twist, but for anyone looking for particularly interesting characters or an especially intelligent plot, it's best to look elsewhere.

[travelsalongmybookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Man On Hackpen Hill - JS Monroe

Crop circles appear overnight on Hackpen Hill, strange mathematical patterns stamped in the wheat, but this one is different - intricate and dramatic and with a dead body precisely in the centre. DI Silas Hart, called in to investigate is at a loss, some things do not add up.
Bella, a trainee journalist is on her first ever story to tell the world the chilling truth about the dead man, the link to Porton Down and a scientist called Jim Matthews. Silas has other ideas and Bella and Jim have to race against time to tell their story.

This is an intense and gripping story with short punchy chapters. There are several mysterious threads, it feels dark and chilling and I had a sense of foreboding reading this. The author masterfully leads you this way and that - I was knocked off kilter several times particularly with regard to the main characters, asking myself - who are they really? It was quite unsettling and brilliantly done.

More bodies are found and more crop circles, and we wonder what is the link to Porton Down and the supposed human experimentation going on there? Are new chemicals being developed? Who are The people after Jim and Bella, is it MI5 or is it someone else? There are ripples from real life- the Skripals in Salisbury with Novichok and it makes for chilling reading.

There is a sense of urgency as you read, racing to find out what is happening, so many twists and turns and the sense that you can’t trust anyone. Each chapter is told from a different viewpoint and they all feel unreliable, so you don’t know who to trust. Porton Down conjures up conspiracy theories, spies, chemical weapons and dark rumours which makes it even more gripping. Ultimately it is about the workings of the mind, psychosis, suggestibility and how events can shape us.

This is thrilling read, I was totally hooked and found I just couldn’t put it down!

✩✩✩✩

[AD PR-PRODUCT]

Thanks to Laura Palmer, Head of Zeus and JS Monroe for my copy of this book

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

J S Monroe is on top form with his latest taut, tense and twisted psychological thriller, The Man on Hackpen Hill.

Crop circles tend to be a regular occurrence on Hackpen Hill in Wiltshire. With golden wheat fields stretching for miles on end, the locals have got used to finding strange mathematical patterns stamped onto the earth. However, the latest pattern is different – and very unsettling. There is something very eerie about this specific design and the dramatic spiraling hexagons – not to mention the dead body positioned precisely at the centre of the circle! DI Silas Hart is used to his fair share of complex and unusual cases, but even he has to admit that he has never come across a crime scene quite like this one!

Silas is completely stumped and he doesn’t know where to start or which way to turn. Jim, a scientist at a government laboratory, could be the one to help him in his quest to untangle the twisted strands of this particular case for he is the only man who knows the chilling truth about the man on Hackpen Hill. Meanwhile, trainee journalist Bella is thrilled with the scoop she has uncovered which could make her name, but Silas is not about to let her tell the world about the strange goings-on in Wiltshire.

In a desperate race against time, dark forces are at play that threaten to jeopardise everything Bella and Jim have worked towards. With nothing as it initially seems, can Bella and Jim get to the truth before more damage is done? Or is it already far too late?

J S Monroe breaks new ground with his latest thriller, The Man on Hackpen Hill. A writer who is at the height of his storytelling powers, in The Man on Hackpen Hill, J S Monroe keeps his readers hanging onto his every word as they find themselves drawn into a strange and sinister world full of dark shadows, chilling secrets and dangerous deceptions.

With the twists coming so fast readers will barely be able to catch their breath, buckle up for an exhilarating rollercoaster ride with J S Monroe’s latest thriller, The Man on Hackpen Hill.

[jeff popple · Rating 4 out of 5]

Monroe started out writing very good spy thrillers in the 2010s under the name Jon Stock, but more recently he has moved into broader crime novels, in the style of Harlan Coben, with clever ‘what if’ scenarios at their core.

As others have noted, In The Man On Hackpen Hill Monroe skillfully develops the idea of a killer using crop circles to to send obscure messages. DI Silas Hart, who has appeared in supporting roles in Monroe’s earlier books, is given the sensitive task of solving the mystery and finds himself caught up in a complex web of nutty conspiracies and allegations about the secret work at the nearby Porton Down military research facility.

Monroe skilfully moves the viewpoint between Hart and two young people, Jim, a scientist at Porton Down and Bella, a very inexperienced trainee at a newspaper. Gradually the roles of Jim and Bella in the gruesome discovery becomes clearer as the sinuous plot smoothly glides its way to an unexpected conclusion, and both of them play an important role in the final denouement.

This is an enjoyable crime thriller with interesting background material on crop circles, drugs, the radical treatment of mental health issues and the experimental work being undertaken at Porton Down. Hart is an engaging character who has steadily developed over the course of the books, and really comes into his own this time around. The supporting characters of Bella and Jim are also interesting, and poignant, and their potentially unreliable viewpoints add a good deal of suspense to the story.

In all, The Man On Hackpen Hill, is a very original and highly contemporary thriller that raises some important issues while entertaining the reader with surprises and suspense. The ending is a little abrupt, but overall it is a very enjoyable read.

See my full review at: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/a...

[Jenny Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

DI Silas Hart is in charge of the police investigation into a dead body which has been placed in the centre of a crop circle in rural Wiltshire. The design of the crop circle has not been seen before and the coded message that the mathematical design is concealing is proving elusive. Jim, a scientist at the nearby secret government facility, Porton Down has the answer but the higher echelons of the police force are determined that he is not going to reveal the truth. In desperation, he enlists the help of Bella, a trainee journalist working on her first story and together they embark on a dangerous journey to ensure the world finds out what is going on.

This is a good thriller which is both exciting and gripping. The characters are well developed and there is plenty of action and suspense. It is also an intelligent and complex storyline, with plenty of twists and turns. The ending is both unique and creative and I didn’t see it coming at all. Another point in the book’s favour is that it was still preying on my mind a couple of weeks after I had finished it.

The problem with the book for me was that I initially had high hopes as it started off really well (5 stars) but the ending felt convoluted and contrived (moved down to 3 stars). In short I was left feeling disappointed with the solution which, at the time, I thought was stretching plausibility beyond reasonable limits, although it was certainly unexpected. Having said that, with the benefit of hindsight I began to come round to the view that it was clever rather than contrived (back up to 4 stars). On balance I have stuck with the 4 star rating.

This is certainly a good thriller which I would recommend to people who enjoy that genre. Apparently this is the third book by this author featuring DI Silas Hart and I would be very interested to read the others, given my uncertainty about how to rate this one.

[Jade Kovacs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!
I'm already a big fan of the DI Silas Hart & Strover cases and this was realllly chilling!!!

"It isn't unusual for crop circles to appear overnight on Hackpen Hill. In this part of Wiltshire, where golden wheat fields stretch for miles, the locals have got used to discovering strange mathematical patterns stamped into the earth"

What then transpires is a twisty, thrilling chase to work out what is going on when the very "unusually" dead bodies are found in the middle of these crop circles!
It is commendable the amount of knowledge I took from this book regarding chemistry/maths/ crop circles and Portion Down- which I was completely unaware of at 31years of age- even though I live down the road from it in Bristol!. It's been really well thought out and J S Monroe has done ALOT of research into the storyline he wanted to create here. No stone was left unturned and everything written didn't feel too far fetched. It was compelling reading.

JS Monroe has also highlighted throughout mental illness awareness and symptoms that I wouldn't of else known not having read 'The Man On Hackpen Hill'.
On top of this I got some great ideas of locations I'd quite like to visit this summer such as Swanage and Studland Bay!!!

I absolutely loved the main characters aside from Hart & Strover in this book and Loved Bella's & Jim's storylines equally, you kind of had an underlying inkling of where their stories were leading with some shocking plot twists that I didn't see coming! I was on edge for both of them come the ending of the story and was utterly fascinated and gripped by the whole thing!!!

Pleasssssssse do more DI Silas Hart Thrillers asap!! A full 5 Gripping, Well Deserved Stars for "The Man On Hackpen Hill" *****

[Judefire33 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly thank you so much, as always to the wonderful Head Of Zeus Publishing for gifting me a copy of The Man On Hackpen Hill by J.S Monroe
Secondly, this is my first read of a J.S Monroe book, the blurb had got my interest piqued, and let me tell you, from the moment I picked it up, I was hooked and obsessed!
The storyline is fast and really interesting revolving around our two protagonists Bella and Jim and the dark goings on of Porton Down, and testing of psychiatric drugs on human guinea pigs! I loved both these characters so much, and found them totally believable, so much so that I never saw the ending coming!! The illegal goings on are investigated by DI Silas Hart of Swindon CID, and he is also a character I loved… he had his own demons to deal with which made this case pretty close to home. I really hope that DI Silas Hart will return in another book as I also adored the setting in the countryside around Swindon, Wiltshire and Hampshire and not a million miles from where I live, and I’m quite familiar with it, which I think also makes for a reader to love this book.
It’s not too scientific which is good as it’s not really something I’m that interested in BUT it works so well in this storyline! I read The Man On Hackpen Hill over a weekend as I could not put it down! The writing is easy to read with short sharp chapters, I can find no faults with this book, in fact it’s going to be in my top 10 of the year I’m sure, I utterly loved loved loved it!
If you like a fast paced gripping thriller then look no further than The Man On Hackpen Hill by J.S Monroe.
An exceptional 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star read!

[Jaffareadstoo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crop circles are in themselves a conundrum but when dead bodies start appearing in the centre of some remarkably complex circles, the search is on, not just to find out who is behind these heinous acts of violence but also to discover the meaning behind the intricate crop designs. DI Silas Hart of the Swindon police force is as perplexed by the crop circle designs as he is by the modus operandi of the perpetrator but he and his investigative team are determined to uncover the truth, even if means disturbing some of the more secretive activity which is going at at the government research facility at nearby Porton Down.

The story is understandably complex with some fascinating theories behind the manipulation of crop circles by those who want to leave specific messages, I found I had to concentrate on getting this information clear in my head before I could go onto the next part of the story. Running alongside the murder instigation is the added benefit of meeting Bella, a young Oxford graduate who is currently on her first assignment as a junior reporter, she desperately wants to make her mark on the world of investigative journalism but as the story progresses we realise that there is far more to Bella's fragile state of mind than we first expected.

Multi-layered and deeply complex, The Man on Hackpen Hill is a crime thriller which feels entirely original, and whilst rather dark in places, it definitely kept my attention, from the impact of its disturbing opening chapter, through to the final denouement, which was every bit as complex as the mystery at its core.

[Jane Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story has an intrinsic sense of authenticity, which is in itself chilling given the disturbing elements it explores. It features the detective team of Silas and Strover, a familiar combination if you've read the authors other psychological thrillers. It begins with a disquieting prologue that sets the scene for what follows. Bella leaves Oxford for a fledgling career in journalism. Her complex past unfolds as the story progresses. Silas and Strover are investigating a death in a crop circle which leads them into the fields of secret laboratories and mental health issues. Jim meets Bella in a Wiltshire pub, accidentally he believes at first.

The story is told from these points of view. The police investigation is absorbing and allows the reader to make their deductions. Bella and Jim are both unreliable protagonists, but they are easy to empathise with. The plot is fast-paced with its short chapters. The use of sensory imagery makes the events easy to imagine. The plot twists are impactful. The story changes perspective dramatically but realistically and is addictive reading. The climactic ending is satisfying, delivering action, poignancy and positivity for the main protagonists.

I received a copy of this book from 'Head of Zeus' in return for an honest review.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Man on Hackpen Hill is the fifth book by J S Monroe and has the strangest beginning, with a woman thinking she can fly. Then we meet the two main characters, Detective Inspector Silas Hart and Bella a trainee journalist, recently graduated from university. As each of their backstory unfolds, the central mystery of bodies found in the centre of crop circles is revealed. Finally, a third protagonist Jim, a scientist at a secretive government laboratory, Porton Down is introduced. As the investigation unfolds, progress is made but the potential leads are only more confusing. There are several references to actual English crimes, which adds a strong layer of credibility to the tale. A most enjoyable read of an enticing police procedural with an intriguing crime and a remarkable conclusion that warrants a four-and- a-half-star rating. With thanks to Head of Zeus Publishers and the author for an uncorrected proof copy for review purposes. Hopefully there will be more Silas Hart cases to come.

[Ann Cross · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a psychological thriller, it has all the elements - murders, crop circles, 3 interesting main characters (Bella, Jim and D.I. Silas Hart), supposed government intrigues and an ending you'll never see coming. What an ending!
The plot is a bit complicated, filled with scientific formulas, strange conversations and characters who have ulterior motives for all the do and say especially Bella's mum and Dr Haslam. You really need to read it and make up your own mind about finishing it or not. I was tempted to return it to the library, but I persisted and I'm glad I did because it was only at the end that it all sort of made sense.
I often think when I read a book with an intriguing plot such as this book and Piranesi, which I loved, how authors come up with their plots. At just on 450 pages, I had sort of worked out in my mind how it was going to end, and I was oh so totally wrong. All I can say is, read it for the ending you won't see it coming!

[Feed The Crime · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5
Monroe knows how to write addictive and complex thrillers, I’ve never given too much thought to crop circles before this book. However during my time reading I found myself googling images to try and visualise the scenes. This was such a unique concept that I’ve never come across before and it was fascinating to learn about. I loved the idea of the secret military base Porton Down with chemical warfare and the possibility of unethical experimentation. We also have antipsychotics as treatment for schizophrenia in here, all these complex plots create a fast paced thriller that is extremely hard to put down. The characters were equally as important as the case, I loved getting to know the back stories of Jim and Bella and how they both became entwined in this case.
Read my full review here: https://feedthecrime.wordpress.com/20...

[Bookmarkthatuk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review here: https://bookmarkthat.co.uk/the-man-on... - no spoilers!

An original, incredible psychological thriller from J. S. Monroe, clear your reading pile for The Man on Hackpen Hill immediately.

I clocked on pretty early to what was happening, as I thought it was obvious – this read later on as the big plot twist, but at this point, I’m not sure if Malone intended us to figure it out or what. Love it.

I couldn’t stop thinking about this book, especially as I read it over the course of a few weeks; whenever people asked what I was reading, I gave them a short synopsis and was itching to pick it back up again.

Gifted in exchange for an honest review.

[totesintobooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unidentified bodies found in crop circles? Who can they possibly be? Cold to the touch. Dead and purposefully placed on the flattened wheat. Are they cadavers or something? There’s conspiracy theories going around but they’re being hushed. And why is that?

Smart gripping crime thriller that makes you feel like you’re playing the role of an intelligent scientist uncovering unsettling truths that are being kept from the public. Something that is also personal to DI Silas because of his son’s condition. Will investigating this not only save the town but his son too?

4/5 ⭐️ Although I find the plot quite predictable, I was pleasantly surprised that finding the truth also meant understanding both Jim’s and Bella’s troubling past. Oh and did i mention I love the Covid 19 addition to this book? The Zoom calls in between investigations are definitely relatable.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a lot of fun in reading this thriller, it's gripping and fast paced. I was attracted by the crop circles and I appreciated the story that mixes thriller, sinister plots and a lot of science.
It's a well researched book and i learned something new about crop circles and maths :)
The plot is well developed and kept me guessing and hooked till the end.
I loved Silas, a down to earth detective, and appreciated Bella and James.
Bella is a bit to sanctimonious at times and sometimes grated on my nerves.
It's the first book I read in this series and won't surely be the last.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[JoanieM · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book through my Book Club. It is my kind of book..

This was a good thriller, although complex. Set in Wiltshire, DI Silas Hart is asked to investigate a crop circle which has appeared. Although not unusual in itself, this is a particular complicated design and it also has a dead body in the centre of it! Jim, a scientist at the Government Lab at Porton Down, and Bella, a young trainee journalist get involved. Each chapter is written from one of the character’s perspectives, so it makes for a quick read. It does get quite exciting as time runs out, especially for Jim and Bella, and it leads them to discover something about themselves which they could not have foreseen.