I've had this book for years, I still haven't, unfortunately, got to it, so this is a placeholder review to reduce my shelf for my own sanity, but will replace this if I ever get to the book

This is the third book in the series and reads easily as a standalone, but I would suggest you try the first two, just to appreciate the great writing! The story line keeps the reader gripped from beginning to end, and is full of twists and turns until the very end. Recommended.

Thrilling story with a plot that kept me turning the pages, really well written with great characters. Highly recommend to everyone who is a fan of this genre.

This is the 3rd book by Bernie Steadman I have read and it was just as thrilling to read as the previous 2. I love getting to know more about the main characters and the storyline was great

Started tomeeasnthia but realised it was book 3 so I will read the others first but loves the first 5 chapters. I

Readers will know from the very beginning of “Death on the Coast” what’s happening. It’s pretty clear quite soon that this is only the beginning of a orchestrated quest to kill. But when the why comes, it’s terrifying.

DCI Dan Hellier and his team are back in this, the third in the West Country Crime Mystery series. His team, and it’s a good one, are driven to the brink with this case, as it’s soon evident that forces greater than the local constabulary are involved. When the truth is revealed, it will come as a shocker to everyone involved, including readers. Hellier will comment later: “Vengeance is right at the black heart of this.”

Hellier’s sister is in this book, too, and his struggles with that scenario are brought home in a few vivid scenes. Luckily, his lady, Claire, is by his side – good characterization all around.

Pretty soon, it’s over. Not with a bang, but a whimper. And life goes on in Exeter. Well, for most.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy of this book, in exchange for this review.

Tightly plotted, devious, occasionally horrifying – this is the best in the series yet. Hellier has come a long way from the first book in the series whilst still being the clever, ordinary guy next door copper we all know and love. This is probably the most bloody of the murder mysteries he has faced and at first glance, you’ll think you have it all figured out. Don’t worry – you really haven’t. I’m picky about crime and mystery novels. Not just anyone will do. Steadman and Hellier are joining my favourites list. Highly recommend.

Death On The Coast is the third book in the West Country Crime Mystery series but I think that it also reads fine as a stand alone.

I am really enjoying the characters in this series and Hellier is great as the lead. I loved the writing style, it flows very well and you are carried off right from the first page to the last - it really had me gripped and I loved how the story unravelled as I got towards the end. I really enjoyed it!

Five stars from me for this one, it is a really enjoyable story and a great addition to a fantastic series!!

The third (and final?) book in the West Country crime series sees Dan Hellier newly promoted, but with just as many matters vying for his attention as before.

The less-than-straightforward (is anything ever straightforward?) case concerns a body burned on a beach bonfire. It won't be the last fire that Dan has to contend with.

Easily the most gruesome crime, but probably the weakest plot of the series, I felt that the ending didn't really stand up to close scrutiny. That said, it didn't detract from the enjoyment

Death on the Coast by Bernie Steadman
West Country Crime Mysteries #3

Mind-boggling, horrifying, devious and deadly are terms I would label the wannabe cult members committing murders on the coast of Exeter. Step in CDI Dan Hellier and his team of investigators and you end up with a police procedural that had dedicated police men and women working almost around the clock to stop murderers that kill in a way nobody should die.

Knowing from the beginning who the killers are does not take away from the suspense of catching the group. Finding out the whys and the underlying reason behind the creation of the group and what fuels the determination for revenge made my skin crawl…as did finding out who the true mastermind actually was.

With each book the author asserts herself as an author to reckon with and follow as she fleshes out each member of the team solving murders. Dan started the series a bit heartbroken and without friends with a sister with issues and by book three he is in a relationship, has at least one good friend and the issues with his sister are becoming clearer to Dan and to the reader.

This was an intense story that had me reading into the wee hours of the night. It had me wondering how people could do what they did in the book even knowing that worse has been done in the past.

Words that come to mind after reading (and not being able to go to sleep quickly after I finished) are:
*Sacrifice
*Revenge
*Cults
* Manipulation
*Emotions
*Family
*Team
*Treason
*Growth
*and more

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Will it stick with me for a while? Definitely
Do I want to read more about this author? Without a doubt

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloodhound Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4.5 Stars

Bernie Steadman’s Death on the Coast is a tightly-plotted, wonderfully suspenseful and highly intriguing police procedural fans of Ann Cleeves’ Shetland and Peter Robinson’s Inspector Banks books are going to love.

Newly promoted DCI Dan Hellier is determined to prove his mettle and show that he is more than up to the job, however, his latest case has got him and his team stumped. The ritualised burning of homeless men on Devon’s beaches has got everybody talking. A twisted mind is behind this sick and evil crime and with this ritual showing no sign of abating, DCI Hellier and his team are up against it as they try to find the sadistic perpetrator who is behind these atrocious acts – before they strike again! But time is not on their side, leads are very thin on the ground and dead ends abound. Will DCI Hellier catch this criminal? Or is this one mystery he simply cannot get to the bottom of?

One thing is certain: the DCI is not going to give up without a fight. As images from the burning are shared on social media, the team realise that they are not merely dealing with criminals, but with a cult that has links to the Irish troubles. As they start to dig deeper and deeper, the DCI and his loyal team find themselves tangled up in an intricate web of vengeance, deception and redemption. With the clock ticking, can the team work together and find the mastermind behind these deplorable killings? Or will a man who has been plotting his revenge for twenty years without a care for the lives he destroys succeed in evading capture…to kill again?

Bernie Steadman is a talented crime writer who has written a fantastic mystery that I simply could not stop reading. Fast-paced, taut, tense and full of suspense, tension and intrigue, Death on the Coast is an excellent crime read to lose oneself into. The pace never flags, the twists come thick and fast and the mystery is so well plotted that readers will be kept on the edge of their seats desperate to find out what happens next.

Readers looking for their new favourite crime fiction author, need to look no further than Bernie Steadman and her West Country crime novels. Having loved Death on the Coast, I’m off to get the previous two books in the series and shall wait with bated breath for the next thrilling installment.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bloodhound Books for a review copy of Death on the Coast, the third novel to feature DCI Dan Hellier of the Exeter police.

When the body of a homeless man is found burned to death in a fire and videos of his killing appear on the internet Dan is in no doubt that they are dealing with some kind of fire cult so how to find and stop them is his main problem although sorting through the lies he is told and outside interference don't help.

I thoroughly enjoyed Death on the Coast which is an entertaining read with a clever plot and some good twists. The plot probably doesn't bear close scrutiny but who cares when it's an exciting and absorbing read? There is always something going on to occupy the reader's attention as they try to work out what will come next. The identity of the cult members is not a secret to the reader as the novel has a dual perspective, giving the reader more information than the police and allowing them to see the wider picture. I found Ms Steadman's pacing of the reveals very good and they had me hooked as she slowly reveals that there is much more to the killings than "simple" cult activity. She has a devious mind and the last chapters are devasting, clever and a final irony in a twisted tale.

Dan Hellier is a good protagonist, an ordinary bloke who wants to be ordinary, unlike many fictional detectives. He wants a relationship and kids, occasionally overdoes the drink and cycles for relaxation. He has a poor relationship with his sister, a former junkie, but I think I might be as intolerant as he is given the hurt she has caused over the years. He's not a super detective, he feels his way on his cases and makes mistakes, such a pleasant change to see a real person in charge.

Death on the Coast is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

OMG. I loved it. When I said this series was getting better and better I meant it. This was a bloody brilliant read. I devoured it. I was very fascinated with the whole cults subject within the book. I havent read many books which include cults and I was hooked.

Death on the Coast reads well as a standalone but does make some references to the previous books but with no spoilers. I would highly recommend this series, I’ve loved every book!!! Well written, gripping and fast paced. A well deserved four stars.

A brilliant team. Brilliant stories. One I will remember for a long time. Dark, Gripping. It will have the reader intrigued just after reading the first chapter alone.

Another roaring success for Bernie Steadman! Dan Hellier, now promoted to DCI and together with his loyal team, tackles some very unusual crimes. Two homeless men have been knocked unconscious and left to burn to death on bonfires. A supposed "fire cult" is displaying images of the deaths on social media, and the race is on to find those responsible and prevent further sacrifices. Again we get more insight into the personal lives of Dan and the team as the story carries the reader swiftly and effortlessly to its shocking climax. This is the third book in the series and more are promised although there will be a bit of a wait until book four gets written. I can highly recommend all the books to date in this great series.

I do love a good police procedural, and this one fits the bill perfectly!

DCI Dan Hellier is obviously quite recently promoted and has more on his plate than he's used to. When his team is alerted to a body on the beach, dead from unnatural causes, they are horrified at the manner of death. With little trace evidence due to the incoming tide, they all realise is this is not going to be an easy case to deal with and when a similar crime occurs soon after, they wonder if they have a potential serial killer on their patch.

This is a good crime read; enough clues to make you wonder but not overly so - plenty of room for doubt and speculation. The investigating squad are a good mix of characters, well explained and drawn from across the spectrum. Dan Hellier comes across as an ordinary guy, full of doubts and dealing with stuff outside his job as well as keeping an eye on all those under his command. It's a series I would like to read more of and was dismayed at the mention of this being the final novel. With several clear mentions of what had taken place in the preceding novels I felt it spoiled for the possibility of catching up with the earlier two. I don't tend to recap on the blurb before beginning to read books in my tbr and in this case I was glad; reading it for this post, I think it reveals too much and would have over-influenced my expectations - but that's just my opinion. However, as a stand-alone read this is a very enjoyable read.

My thanks to Sarah Hardy and Bookouture for approving my copy via NetGalley. This is my honest, original and unbiased review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this "West Country Crime Mystery" Death on the Coast by Bernie Steadman, even though it was book 3!

Set in Devon, DCI Dan Hellier and DS Sally Ellis' crew make a gruesome discovery; someone is burning body parts in a very ritualistic way. Could a cult be responsible for this? What are their motivations? Can his team work out what is happening before another death hits their shores?

I whizzed through this story and although the title suggests cozy mystery, this is a much darker and more realistic police procedural. It's got everything I love in a good thriller; a great cast of people with their own issues to contend with, interesting plot twists (despite knowing who is responsible all the way through the book) and enough intriguing goings on to keep me reading long well into the night until I finished it! Bernie Steadman is on fire with this book! I must keep up with this series from now on!

Thank you to Bloodhound Books, and #NetGalley for my ARC copy. This is my own opinion and not biased in any way.

A very good police procedural, full of twists , that deals with interesting themes like cults, IRA and ghosts from the past.
The plot is solid and fast pace, the cast of characters interesting, and it's a lot of fun to read.
A very good book that keep the high standards set by the previous ones in this series.
Recommended.
Many thanks to Bloodhound Books and Netgalley for this ARC

This is the third book in the series and if you have read the previous books it's like meeting previous acquaintances back again and become involved in their lives
The book can easily be read as a stand-a-lone but be warned you might be temped to go buy the first two books to get to know more about the characters.
These books keep you engaged till the end. A lot of twist and turns. You think you have it all figured out only to find out that you got it wrong. I highly recommend this book and thanks to Bloodhound Books publishing I got to read a pre-publish copy. Liked it enough that I pre-ordered my own copy from Amazon.

4/5 Stars!

This book has everything needed to make a great mystery: cults, murder and plenty of juicy secrets - Oh My!

The set-up is great, with people participating in dangerous and violent rituals, in over their heads before they know it. From there, it's anybody's guess how everything works out, and there are plenty of good twists in there to keep readers on their toes.

I really enjoyed the level of detail in this book - nothing is insignificant and it all fits together perfectly to create an intense ending.I also really enjoyed the police team, and would absolutely read more with them as the main characters. (I am also really invested in Hellier's personal life too, so I would like to see more of that too!)

Overall, fans of police procedurals will really enjoy this one. It's creepy, twisty and has plenty of drama!

Having read the first two Dan Hillier mysteries by BA Steadman, I was intrigued to see whether there would be changes now that the series is branded West Country Crime Mysteries and the writer now Bernie Steadman. Thankfully, the high standard is maintained and this is an excellent novel. It is clever, erudite and intriguing, dealing as it does with death by burning, ritualistic murder, the IRA, MI5 and more! I loved it!