Twisty but easily read plot with strong characters and engaging throughout.
If you enjoy a good police procedural thriller, this one ticks all the boxes.
A good use of my time and a novel I would recommend.

A serial killer jn Manchester or simply, for want of a better word, gangland killings? Or both? Those are the questions facing DI Nick Dixon. This is fine as a standalone. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

I really wanted to love this book but sadly it fell slightly short for me and I abandoned it about a quarter the way through.
Nothing against the book or the writing, it just wasn't a fit for me.
Sorry

Very engrossing book. It kept me guessing and some heart in the mouth moments. I liked the fact that it covered different areas of the country and shows how things come together most of the time. I will look for more of this series on Amazon. Totally recommended

Although I hadnt ready any of the previous Nick Dixon books it worked well as a stand alone book. The dynamics between Nick and his partner Jane are really good. The plot was complicated with some suprises and plenty of tension. The team identifies the killer relatively early and are then tracking him down. A really good Police procedural with a (relatively) normal Detective. I'll be reading the other books in the series.

Heads or Tails is one of those books that is really difficult to put down - you know you should be doing something else but instead you carry on reading, because the story is fast paced and good with lots of different twists and turns that keep you hooked until the end. D.I. Nick Dixon is a likeable, intelligent policeman with an intuitive sense that makes him effective. I hadn't read the other books in the series but that didn't detract from my enjoyment of this one. I definitely recommend it.

I started to read this book in eager anticipation of a great read after enjoying all of Mr Boyd's previous Nick Dixon novels. I wasn't disappointed. The story starts with a simple stakeout to catch a group of violent elver poachers. DI. Nick Dixon discovers a van half buried in the tidal mud and the tide coming in. Inside the van is a half conscious man who is handcuffed to the inside of the van. The man also has a hole drilled in the middle of his forehead and his throat had been cut. They are unable to get the man out before the tide comes in and the man drowns.. The PM shows the wounds And the MO of the mans death bares a resemblance to the killings committed by a previous serial killer who was never brought to justice, known as The Vet. Dixon's dilemma was, was this the return of The Vet or a copycat killer.
The story unfolds as Dixon follows the trail of the killer or killers in his own unorthodox way disregarding orders and procedure putting himself in great danger along the way. There are many twists and turns and bodies along the way before we come to a violent end. Another unputdownable novel from Damien Boyd. I now look forward to reading the next one..

I really wanted to like this book. The premise was great but for some reason I couldn't get into the storyline. I loved the character of Dixon but found the story to be very convoluted and hard to follow with all of the different names from the current investigation and the previous Vet investigation. I did finish it and liked the end of the book but this is not one I would read again.

The solid Nick Dixon series continues with this 7th book.

What a ride readers get with Damien Boyd's latest DI Nick Dixon crime thriller 'Heads or Tails'.
From the dark professional report that acts as prologue to it's final climatic chase this novel is action based and all about good policing.
Trouble is that the Avon & Somerset police fear they have a copycat killer when brutal executions occur which are a throw back to Manchester's gangs and the iron enforcement by a killer know as "The Vet".
This requires Dixon to visit Manchester CID to look for clues. However, his attempts to understand seems to be controlled by unknown forces making him question the information and facts shared. There is a thought that perhaps the force has a leak and elements of corruption somewhere in its ranks.
This contrast with the investigation at home makes for an interesting counter-balance to the more gentle paced police work in a rural setting; indeed Dixon fronting up to the current crime lords in Manchester is well written and shows his character against that of City's discredited detectives.
Although this is now the 7th novel in this series I think you could easily jump straight in here without worrying about the back story, great as they are. The book reads as a stand-alone police procedural full of action and impressive set pieces.
The plot is beautifully spun and there is real drama here. Life is seen as precious but murder seems to be different, historically within criminal circles in Manchester but re-introduced by the copycat for quite different reasons.
Fear is a common factor and the killing is less clinical in it's revised methods but harsher in it's reach. Criminals killing other bad people seems less personal than when the copycat resurfaces with methods to terrorise a different group that may have wronged him.
The book also poses the question of people being able to change. It is also brought into focus with a sub-plot involving Nick's girlfriend Jane.
I love the fact that the author doesn't over write his stories but finds time to introduce a group of supporting characters. He does so without blurring them as just extras but each with distinction and clarity in the story. No-one is used better than Monty Dixon's faithful dog who drifts in and out of scenes but by his presence elevates it to a reality other author's fail to capture.
Guaranteed that you'll love it and if new to the author think of the fun you'll get finding six equally good crime dramas to read.

The 7th book in the DI Nick Dixon series see's him trying to solve the murder of a man who is found handcuffed in a submerged van,the trail takes Dixon up to Manchester with a new partner in tow and back to the 1990's.The story is a familiar tale of Dixon rooting out the culprits in his own up and at them style although this doesn't always go down with his long suffering girlfriend Jane,the plot, as in all the the other DI Dixon books races along and is a good read full of tension.Although the murderer is known pretty early in the book the twists and turns carry on coming but the ending for me was a little drawn out (hence the 4 stars not 5)but overall another excellent police procedural thriller from Damien Boyd and i await the next instalment of this series with anticipation.An excellent 4 star read.

EXCERPT: The tide was up to Harry'sneck now; that much was visible from the shore. His head was topped back, his mouth open, and he was fighting to keep his chin above the water with his last gasp. His eyes were wide open, tears mixing with the seawater. Harry was conscious enough to know what was happening to him. Dixon shook his head. He was watching a man's life ebbing away on a flood tide and there was nothing he could do to stop it.

THE BLURB: A man has been mutilated and left to drown on the incoming tide, handcuffed in his van. With the murder bearing a striking resemblance to a string of sadistic killings carried out with surgical precision in 1990s gangland Manchester, it can mean only one thing: the killer is back.

Transferred to the Major Investigation Team, DI Nick Dixon is assigned a new partner and sent to Manchester. Meanwhile, the gruesome murders in Somerset continue.

Convinced of a connection with the unsolved gangland killings, and with the odds stacked against him, Dixon takes the ultimate gamble, determined to bring the killer to justice before it’s too late.

But is it the same killer? If so, why has he resurfaced now? And how many more must die?

MY VIEWS: Firstly, Heads or Tails by Damien Boyd is book #7 in the DI Nick Dixon series. I have not previously read any of the preceding books in the series. Heads or Tails contains the occasional reference to past crimes that are not explained, and the relationships between characters are obviously long standing ones. Although not fully understanding references to past occurrences does not really impact on understanding or enjoying the plot of Heads or Tails, it probably would be advisable, if at all possible, to read the series in order from the beginning to get the most out of it. But, if not, it is still a pretty good read as a stand alone.

Heads or Tails was a good read, but nothing very special. It is a well written British police procedural/ crime with good characterisation. It flows smoothly, is an easy read and even has a couple of OMG! moments that give added interest - including what the book title refers to. But it never really gripped me. There wasn't that special 'tingling ' feeling that means I would put on my 'DO NOT DISTURB' hat and when I was finished, rush off to order the rest of the series. If another book in the series was to fall into my hands, I would definitely read it, but I won't be going out of my way to find it.

Thank you to Thomas and Mercer via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of Heads or Tails by Damien Boyd for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own, therefore if you enjoyed the excerpt, please pick up a copy of Heads or Tails. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on it.

Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page for an explanation of my ratings. You can check out this review and others at sandysbookaday.wordpress.com and https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2123273695

I'll start with the usual spiel. This is book seven of the series and, although the main story contained within is complete, to get the best from the characters with regard to their development and backstory, it is best to start from book one and read in order. This being book seven, I realise there is a lot to do to catch up so if you're not inclined I do think this one would work well in isolation although a few of the relationships between certain parties would have more depth if read with their backstories.
I personally have read and enjoyed all the previous books and have been looking forward to revisiting the characters, especially Nick himself. Where other series have hit the ground running and, after a few books, somewhat fizzled out. This series for me has done the opposite and I have seen both the author and the characters mature as the series has gone on without any signs of it becoming stale at all.
So, we begin with Nick on the trail of some elver poachers. That done, he is called to investigate a van on the verge of being claimed by the incoming tide. There's a man in the van and Nick struggles to get him out due to him being handcuffed. He also has certain injuries. Sadly, Nick and the first responders fail to save him and when eventually they recover his body it appears that the injuries are familiar to the Police. They are reminiscent of those inflicted by an old serial killer who has never been caught. The case is taken from Nick and claimed by the MIT which initially disgruntles Nick until he gets on their team, going up to Manchester to re-visit the original murders. And so begins a bit of a cat and mouse game, pitting Nick and his team against what they think could be a copycat but Nick believes that there is more to the story and he, once again, goes out on a limb, putting himself in danger to get to the bottom of things once and for all. Focusing on what is going on in the present, could he be the one that breaks the cold case and close it once and for all.
Wow, this was pretty action packed right from the off. As well as all the investigation work from Nick and his team, we also have the cross Force involvement and delving into the past unsolved case. Whilst the plot was, at times, a wee bit convoluted and maybe not wholly convincing, it was definitely seat of your pants exciting in nature and Nick employs every trick in his book to get what he needs and wants in his own inimitable, ignore the superior officers, sort of way! As more and more was uncovered, my need to know even more kicked in and I found it very hard to put the book down, even for a moment. It gripped me from the first page and didn't let me go until all was done and dusted.
Every good cop needs a good sidekick and, as well as his fellow officers, and of course long suffering girlfriend Jane, we also have Monty the dog who features quite a lot in this book. Love that guy! I've already mentioned Jane and here, she play a bit of a back seat investigation wise but appears occasionally, mostly regarding her ongoing family issues. I won't expand here for those who haven't read previous books and maybe want to, but where in earlier books, the balance wasn't quite right between the professional and personal, here the author has it spot on.
All in all, another great addition to an already well established series. All I can do now is wait for book eight.

My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

This is the first novel in this series that I have had the pleasure of reading. And after finishing, I can tell you two things without a doubt:

1. This will not be the last story from this author that I read.
2. You do not need to have read any of the earlier stories in this series in order to enjoy this one.

I enjoyed the way the author managed to seamlessly blend in murders from the past into things happening in the present. The dynamic between the main characters was also well done, the characters were complex and presented a strong (and realistic) image of how I perceive police officers to be.

The plot moves along at a steady pace, with new details being revealed in seemingly every chapter. In fact, I was so completely engrossed by this story that I found it hard to put down. Instead, I found myself staying up long after the rest of my family had gone to bed just so I could see what was in store for DI Dixon and company. Nothing about this story seemed over-done or predictable, which is often hard to accomplish with these types of novels.

Overall, I am sure this story will still appeal to those who enjoy a good thriller novel.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

DI Nick Dixon is back in another installment of a great series. I was excited to see this one on Netgalley and I am glad I got the opportunity to read the ARC. I recently have been reading more and more about DI's and this book does not disappoint. The killer is out there and Nick has to find out if the killings are related to a gang type murders. If you have the time look into this book and the entire series.

Nick Dixon back doing what he does best and all the old crew too including Monty. Great plot that twists and turns and you don't know who is friend or foe - apart from your old trusted colleagues. Usual superb writing by Damien Boyd- you can feel the spray from the sea and smell the salt and the seaweed
Great addition to a great series.

Another great story in this series. The. characters are all interesting and it's good to catch up with them. A gripping mystery which slowly unravels to it's conclusion..

This is book seven in the DI Nick Nixon series. it is every bit as interesting as the previous six. Nick is a very likeable character with his no nonsense approach to his work.The plot is very clever, if a bit unbelievable, and there is plenty action and tension. A very good read and a better than average police procedural. I would recommend readers start with book one in the series. Thanks to Net Galley and Thomas and Mercer for my copy. I reviewed on Goodreads

Thank you Netgalley and Thomas Mercer for the eARC.
This was a welcome return to Keith Dixon, his partner Jane and Monty the Staffie in the 7th of this lovely series.
When Keith and his police partner are on a stakeout to catch elver poachers, they discover a van about to be engulfed by the fast rising tide. The driver of the van is badly hurt; a hole in the middle of his forehead and stab wounds in his neck have rendered him near death, and to their horror, the rescuers cannot free him. His hands and one foot have been tied down and the horn disabled. He is soon buried at sea.
The mode of the murder is an exact copy of murders committed in the 1990's. Two brothers, heads of the main crime family in Manchester, were suspected at the time, but they disappeared without a trace. Whether the IRA was involved, or a rival gang, was never discovered. Now Keith has to revisit the Manchester cold case, which takes a toll on his relationship with Jane, who is terrified of the danger Keith puts himself into. She fears he may not return home and wants him to take it slow.
Nonetheless, theirs is a loving relationship and I particularly love the way they incorporate Monty into their comings and goings; he is a very lucky pooch!
Keith is a very likeable character, honorable, empathic and does his job very well. The ending is quite a nail biter and I can't wait for the 8th in the series.