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A Jill Kennedy and DCI Max Trentham Mystery #2
A Darker Side
Forensic psychologist Jill Kennedy has given up police work to enjoy a quiet life in the Lancashire village of Kelton Bridge, but when Martin Hayden, a seventeen-year-old schoolboy, is murdered, DCI Max Trentham, Jill’s ex-colleague and ex-lover, wants her back at work.
As they hunt Martin’s killer, they find the picture is far from straightforward. For a start, it seems likely that Martin wasn’t the innocent young fellow his parents claim, and might have been involved in blackmail. Furthermore, Martin’s father isn’t exactly the distraught parent one would expect, while his mother, Josie, seems determined to take her own secrets to the grave.
As they hunt Martin’s killer, they find the picture is far from straightforward. For a start, it seems likely that Martin wasn’t the innocent young fellow his parents claim, and might have been involved in blackmail. Furthermore, Martin’s father isn’t exactly the distraught parent one would expect, while his mother, Josie, seems determined to take her own secrets to the grave.
8 pages, MP3 CD
First published January 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
September 24, 2018
A Darker Side by Shirley Wells is the second in a series featuring Jill Kennedy, a forensic psychologist and Max Trentham, a DCI in Lancashire, England. Boys from a local school are missing and Jill and Max must find them before they turn up dead. There is some romantic interplay between the two and a satisfying mystery that kept my attention.
May 25, 2020
I liked this story a lot more than the first one. The narrator was also different and she did a good job with the voices. This story was very sad and the mystery was great. I am hooked on this series and can't wait to start the next one.
June 2, 2017
A good read
Enjoyed the story but, in my opinion, was spoilt by the foul language. Would not read another by this author.
Enjoyed the story but, in my opinion, was spoilt by the foul language. Would not read another by this author.
June 15, 2018
Tedious, poorly written dialogue. Plot thin.
May 29, 2019
Curiously bland.
January 29, 2020
I enjoyed most of it but the ending was far too unlikely and disjointed.
February 26, 2017
Excellent
The series continues to get better! After reading the first and enjoying it I had high hopes for book 2. I was not disappointed.
Onto number 3!!
The series continues to get better! After reading the first and enjoying it I had high hopes for book 2. I was not disappointed.
Onto number 3!!
May 12, 2014
Based on the audio book
I would rate this book as a 2-star story, and 4 stars for the writing.
Although quite predictable with just one red herring, I found the story very slow and there was really only any 'pace' to it in the last 10% or so. Unlike the 1st in the series, there was really nothing that interested me in this story and had me willing the end to come.
On the flip side, though, I felt that it was better written compared to the first story, with much better dialogues and, aside from the romantic sub-plot, was not in a particular 'female' writing style.
The narrator was even better than in the first story (shame she does not narrate the others in the series) with very good accents and voices for both the female and male characters.
I will continue with the series but I hope there some improvement in the next ones and a little less 'is she or isn't she' regarding the romantic affair with Max.
I would rate this book as a 2-star story, and 4 stars for the writing.
Although quite predictable with just one red herring, I found the story very slow and there was really only any 'pace' to it in the last 10% or so. Unlike the 1st in the series, there was really nothing that interested me in this story and had me willing the end to come.
On the flip side, though, I felt that it was better written compared to the first story, with much better dialogues and, aside from the romantic sub-plot, was not in a particular 'female' writing style.
The narrator was even better than in the first story (shame she does not narrate the others in the series) with very good accents and voices for both the female and male characters.
I will continue with the series but I hope there some improvement in the next ones and a little less 'is she or isn't she' regarding the romantic affair with Max.
April 27, 2011
I really liked this second book in the series starring Jill & Max, psychological profiler and cop, respectively. The book starts with a teenage boy being killed, followed by other killings and disappearances. The police are at a loss to figure out how these are related, and they keep thinking that the connection has to be something they've missed. In the meantime, Jill Kennedy and Max Trentham continue to explore their feelings for one another. This book had more of a sense of place than the previous one, and the characterization was just as strong. I'm definitely looking for the next in the series so I can spend more time with the characters.
October 31, 2014
This is a really good suspense thriller. Plenty of twists and turns all the way through keeping the reader guessing right up to the last chapter. This is the 2nd book in the Trentham -Kennedy series and have really enjoyed both so will be reading book 3. However, the format on the Kindle version is awful I played around with my Kindle settings but still had big spaces all the way through. It did marry the enjoyment somewhat so am giving 4 stars instead of 5.
May 29, 2008
I thought this had a nice twisty plot and the interaction between the leads reminded me of BBC's Wire in the Blood (in reverse - male detective, female forensic psychologist). My only issue was that the solution was too close to one I'd read in another British mystery recently by Maureen Carter so I guessed it very early on.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 10, 2009
I like this author a lot. I'm partial to many British mystery writers, but I'm glad I found the Kennedy/Trentham duo. Three in the series. Need to finish this fast so I can dive into the new Dan Chaon! Wish I could quit picturing Jill Kennedy as a "senior" since she is onlky 34. Don't know why this is stuck in my mind?
April 24, 2016
An enjoyable read as always but I wish Jill and Max would get their acts together and stop moaning about what's past and who the other may or may not be seeing. Get on with the murder solving and leave the romance to Danielle Steel. Or just get their acts together, Max and they boys move in to Jill's cottage and they all live happily ever after solving murders.
August 20, 2016
I like this series... a British mystery set in a small English town. The characters are well developed.
In this story, a young high school boy is missing. There are several people that fall under suspicion. Max, the police investigator calls on Jill (forensic psychologist and ex-girlfriend) to help him with the case
It is an easy read - I read it in one day - but a well defined story
In this story, a young high school boy is missing. There are several people that fall under suspicion. Max, the police investigator calls on Jill (forensic psychologist and ex-girlfriend) to help him with the case
It is an easy read - I read it in one day - but a well defined story
December 18, 2009
I'm not sure why this author and this series is not on Good Reads but it really is very good. I highly recommend it. It is about a physchological forensic scientist who helps solve murders in England.
July 26, 2011
In the second entry in this thoroughly enjoyable series featuring forensic psychologist Jill Kennedy and her ex-lover and current colleague DCI Max Trentham the author once again achieves an engrossing balance of cozy village and vicious violence resolved by endearing characters.
July 24, 2009
the story line was ok, it was just difficult to understand some of the british terms, which made it a little hard to read.
May 6, 2013
Not a good copy on Kindle. Many errors, unfinished sentences etc. Disappointed.
November 1, 2013
the book was ok, not as good as I imagined it would be. its kind of good when the cops look for evidence but when they keep looking it just gets extremely boring for me, sorry.
100-272
100-272
May 17, 2014
Second in the Kennedy/Trentham series and another good read.
July 18, 2014
This was the first book I read by Shirley Wells in the Jill Kennedy and DCI Max Tentham series, and it certainly made me want to read more, great characters, really good story.
January 31, 2016
This was a good one with the chase to the killer being very dramatic & exciting. Good story.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews