I just binge read 5 of Dorothy Simpsons Detective Thanet series. The first being "Six Feet Under". This the 4th of the series.

My review will be the same for all 5 that I read. I don't like to recap what happened in the book. We can all read the blurb on the jacket, or online versions. I find it much more important to tell you, the potential reader, what I liked and why or what I disliked and why.

What i liked:

Detective Thanet is a fully realized character. We find out that he hates the first contact with a corpse. There is a mixture of anger and empathy. He often wonders if this makes him ineffective detective. We get a chance to see his family life. His wife and two children. We see the struggles and joys of a normal family. Adds a distinct layer to his character.

Their are only 2 other recurring characters, Doc Mallard, the curmudgeonly coroner, and DS Lineham, Thanets partner who has two strong women in his life, his mother and his wife. they aren't as fully realized as characters but we gather enough information to relate to them.

The tedious work of interviewing and writing reports is frequently related. Since this is a vital aspect of police work we are given an incite to the working life of the police.

The interaction between characters works well. Suspects getting annoyed with the interruptions to their lives. Family members being interviewed shortly after the murder. The difficult job the police have in doing their investigation.

Dorothy Simpson makes the whole process seem real.

What I don"t particularly appreciate. One caveat is that reading all 5 books in a row these "problems" are amplified.

There is a formula that is followed in each book. The finding of the body. the early interviews, the lack of forensic evidence, secondary interviews, the insights that lead to the murderer. Connections to evidence is lacking.

As I stated this becomes more apparent when reading one after the other.

I would like to thank the Publisher, NetGalley, and the author for my copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

This is the first book I've read in this series so a bit out of order. Good story line and I enjoyed the mystery. I think if I would have gotten to know the characters in earlier books, I would have enjoyed it much more.

I'm loving every Thanet I read - although admittedly I'm doing so out of order. This was such fun - a great twist on (I won't say the spoiler) a truck often done poorly... Simpson does it so enjoyably. Highly recommend!

4 stars

When the thoroughly unpleasant Steven Long is murdered by a blow to the head and it is DI Luke Thanet and DS Mike Lineham’s job to find out whodunit.

There are a bevy of suspects to consider in this Dorothy Simpson novel. For Long was disliked by almost everyone who knew him. He had a way of goading people into anger that was beyond all measure. Was it his long-suffering ex-wife? The father whose two children were killer through Long’s careless ness? His younger brothers? His current lover? It seems only his twin has anything kind to say about him and that is suspicious in itself. The further Thanet dug into Long’s past, even I disliked him more and more.

I really enjoyed this little mystery. I like the way Simpson writes about Thanet’s relationship with his family. It is heartwarming and great to read about a detective that actually has a happy family life. It seems so many of the fictional detectives we read about now are jaded by life and simply worn out from the battles they must face.

This book is very well written and plotted, as are all of Dorothy Simpson’s novels. It builds suspense right away and keeps the reader well entertained until the very end. What a winner Ms. Simpson is!

I want to thank Netgalley and Open Road Integrated Media for forwarding to me a copy of this most remarkable cozy book for me to read.

Dorothy Simpson’s Dead on Arrival is an intriguing mystery, but the victim is almost too easy to hate. Steven Long makes it his business to make everyone miserable, from his half-siblings to his wife. His self absorption and self pity is so great that he takes absolutely no responsibility for his actions. I hated hIm so much that part of me wanted to put the mystery aside. That his twin Geoff had positive things to say about him was suspicious from the very beginning. Everyone had a reason for wanting him gone. I felt for DI Thanet and his sergeant having to investigate the murder of such a horrible fellow. I enjoyed the interactions between Thanet and his family. You could easily see the affection he has for his wife and children. It makes a startling comparison to Long’s lifetime of destructive self absorption. I anticipated one of the two major twists - it was almost too easy. Still I enjoyed the lead characters, and Simpson’s writing is excellent. I will definitely try another of her novels.

4 / 5

I received a copy of Dead on Arrival from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

-Crittermom

Book 6 of the Thanet series has a complicated cast of related characters, Pay attention to the relationships if you want to beat Thanet to the conclusion of the mystery!

I think this is my favorite book, so far, in the series. In this one, we find a woman that has been murdered in a hotel. She used to live in Sturrenden but nobody has seen her for 20 years. Not since her then boyfriend committed suicide. The thing with these mysteries, is you kind of know who the killer is but at the same time, you really don't care. At least, I don't. I like the way they're written, I like the characters, and I enjoy "watching" the mystery unfold. I've said this before, they are very reminiscent of Agatha Christie. I'm finished with the 5th book in the series and I still can't wait to read the rest.

**Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was an ok story with an unexpected ending. It was not very original. Overall I was not happy with this book