It starts with nightmare. Jane wakes up screaming, shaking her daughter, not remembering what the nightmare had been about.

The neighbors driving home that night almost run over a child who is running down the street. It is Jane's daughter, almost comatose with fear.

When they drove to the child's house, the found the gate ajar, the door open. What they find inside is Jane hanging by the neck in the hallway of her home. Her husband is nowhere to be found, and Jane's son is standing at the top of the stairs.

Assuming it is a suicide, DI David Vogel is called in to investigate. Jane's husband is the mayor's son, so questioning will half to be done carefully.

The investigation leads Vogel and his partner to the conclusion of murder... not suspected suicide. But nothing about Jane's death is at is seems.

There are secrets and there are deep dark secrets .... and neither the family nor the neighbors will share what they know.

Well written, the mystery starts at the very beginning .... what does Jane see in her nightmares? Who knows about these dreams? Why would anyone .. other than her husband..be concerned about these dreams. A nicely paced plot, the mystery remains to the unpredictable end.

Many thanks to the author / Severn House / Netgalley for the digital copy of this British crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

DI David Vogel #3

Detective Inspector David Vogel is called in to investigate a suicide of a young mother of twins. Jane Ferguson's body was found hanging from the bannister. There is some evidence of foul play. Her father-in-law is the local politician. DI Vogel thinks this could be a murder enquiry.

Jane is a bit complex. Investigations into her background reveal things that don't add up and people are being economic with the truth. I liked Vogel, he has morals. I was quickly caught up in this story, desperate to get to the truth. There plenty of twists to keep you off the scent. The ending was satisfactory. I have not read the other two books iyn this series ut it can be read as a standalone.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Severn House and the author Hilary Bonner for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Nicely twisted and well plotted! Jane is found hanging from a bannister in her home. Her husband Felix, a wealthy and not nice man, is the logical suspect (it's always the husband isn't it) except DI David Vogel, who, along with his partner DS Dawn Suslow, have been sent to helm the locally sensitive investigation. Jane was having nightmares- horrible ones- that caused problems in her shaky marriage. Felix is the son of the mayor, his partners never liked Jane, and there's a lot being hidden. Old secrets come back to haunt in this one. Vogel is an interesting character with a more positive backstory than many in this genre. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A complex and well done procedural.

DI David Vogel is summoned by the head of a nearby district to lead the investigation into a suspicious death. Jane Ferguson’s dead body is found hanging from her bannister by her six-year-old daughter. It looks like suicide at first, but some of the evidence points at foul play. Jane’s father-in-law is a local politician, but when someone high up in the department would prefer the whole investigation is swept under the rug, Vogel thinks it’s more than local politics that is behind the order to tread lightly. The evidence convinces Vogel that Jane was murdered and regardless of his orders, he is determined to find the killer.

This is the third book in this series and I have read both of the previous books, but I think new readers will enjoy the book as much as I did. The author is able to combine the suspense of a thriller with the realism of a police procedural. David Vogel is such a wonderful main character. He is an excellent detective and a dedicated family man. One of the highlights of the book is when he stands up to a snobby family member of the victim in his quiet, but authoritative way. He and Dawn Saslow work well together and take their cases seriously. Each is upset over the pressures being received from higher up to get the case wrapped up quickly, but only Vogel knows the details of the orders he’s being given. Even though the plot gets a little over-complicated at the end with the involvement of British Intelligence agencies,, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and would rate it 4.5 stars. This is becoming one of my favorite series and I hope it continues. Fans of Cynthia Harrod-Eagles and Deborah Crombie will enjoy the book.

I received this book from NetGalley through the courtesy of Severn House. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

A Very Frustrating Investigation for Acting DCI Vogel

Late at night, a young girl runs in front of a car. The couple recognized that the girl is the six year-old daughter of a neighbor. The woman from the car walks the girl home where she discovers the property gate and house door open. Being suspicious she goes in alone to check out the house. She discovers the girl’s mother hanging from the banister over the stairs. She realized that the girl’s twin brother was upstairs. She retrieves the boy. After the arrival of the husband, they take the children to their home and call the police. A short timeline shift to two weeks earlier explains the terrible dreams this woman was having, and effect on her husband and children. Then, the police investigation begins. DI Vogel’s boss calls and wakes him up informing that he is being sent to another police jurisdiction to investigate a death that may be suspicious and want outside to handle it. On the bright side, Vogel becomes an acting DCI and his assistant, Saslow to acting DS.

The main storyline from this start has full of twists, turns and misdirections. Most of these occur because it seems that almost all witnesses and, then, persons of interest are not fully cooperative and seem to hold some facts back. As he story proceeds, the main storyline becomes more and more complex. My interest was quickly captured, and I seemed compelled to continue reading. I wanted to learn every new fact, to know who did what and why some events were happening, and lastly what some of these events meant.

The B-storyline on Vogel provides more information about his relationship with Saslow and quite deeply with his old boss, Detective Superintendent Nobby Clarke. Glimpses into Vogel’s family life and his interactions with his wife and daughter are quite revealing. Lastly, some insight is provided into how Vogel feels about his career. This novel really broadens the personality and background of the Vogel character.

There shouldn’t be any problems with this novel for the more sensitive readers to language, sex and violence. Vulgar language is quite minimal. There are not any sex scenes. Lastly, most violence is implied, and only one described as it occurred that was quite mild. As this is a British police procedural, I found reading it on an e-reader with a good dictionary and ready access to the Internet was quite valuable in determining the meaning of many British informal language words used by the author and finding the location of various locations in the novel.

There was not anything that I particularly disliked in this novel. I had mixed feelings about the ending. There were aspects that I liked but some aspects that I did not like. I then realized that it was quite realistic. Life decisions are always a compromise between maintaining strict principals and the messy reality in which we all live and make those decisions.

I did enjoy reading this novel, and my attention was captured by it. If the British police procedural genre interests you, I believe that you will enjoy this novel. You do not have to read the previous novels in this series to enjoy this one. I rate this novel with five stars.

I have received a free e-book version of this novel through NetGalley from Severn House with an expectation for an honest, unbiased review. I wish to thank Severn House for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.

This is my first taste of Hilary Bonner's Bristol based DI David Vogel of Avon and Somerset Police, it is the third in the series. In it Vogel is woken early in the morning and informed that he and DS Dawn Saslow are being sent to lead a politically sensitive investigation into a suspicious suicide for Devon and Cornwall Police. Vogel is not best pleased, he does not want to leave his wife, Mary and his special needs daughter, Rosamund. Neighbours Gerry and Anne Barham discover wife and mother, Jane Ferguson, hanging in her home, an apparent suicide. From the first two local police officers, to the pathologist and Vogel, there are instant suspicions that this may not be a suicide but a cleverly disguised murder. The Devon officer in charge is an old friend of Vogel's from their time at the London Met, Detective Superintendent Nobby Clarke, she does not like the heavy pressure being brought to close the investigation down.

Beautiful Jane Ferguson is married to wealthy businessman Felix, the son of the influential mayor, an easygoing man with a love of the drink, and has two children, 6 year old twins, Joanna and Stephen. Felix has recently become commodore of the local yacht club, and whilst he seems to have a solid alibi, he is the prime suspect for Jane's murder. His parents, Sam and Amelia, had never approved of Jane, thinking she was not good enough for their son, but Felix loved her. It soon becomes clear that Felix and Jane's marriage was under heavy strain, Jane was suffering from never ending constant terrifying nightmares and dreams that was pushing her marriage to breaking point. She had no idea what the source of the devastating dreams are as nothing in her past could account for them. In a complex narrative, there is another death that seems a straightforward tragedy, but Vogel does not believe in coincidences, certain it is connected to his inquiry, and is to discover the answers to the mystery go back to family secrets over three decades old.

Bonner has created a great protagonist in DI David Vogel, an unassuming, intelligent family man that it is all to easy to underestimate, but he has no difficulties in asserting himself whenever he needs to, whether it is with belligerent or unco-operative suspects, witnesses or fellow police officers. He makes clear his unhappiness when his investigation is shut down due to political interference, although he does learn the truth in the end. This is a complicated story that takes in the involvement of the intelligence agencies, a compelling and engaging read that I very much enjoyed. Many thanks to Severn House for an ARC.

This is the third in the David Vogel series so, to get the best from it, it is recommended that you read from book one, in order as Vogel is a bit complex. The main story however is self contained so you can, at a push, read as a stand alone.
We start with a near miss as a young child flees her house. Neighbours pick her up and when they enter the house they see her mother's hanging body in the hallway. Initially though of as suicide, Vogel isn't convinced and soon his suspicions are confirmed and fingers start to point to her husband. It also soon transpires that the victim, Jane Ferguson, is a bit complex. Suffering bad nightmares that she simply can't recall on wakening. Further investigations into her life also don't add up and Vogel finds that certain people are being rather economic with the truth. But he is nothing but tenacious and is determined to uncover the whole truth, layer by layer. But there are those who really don't want that truth exposed... determined enough to kill again?
Well, this was a doozy of a plot. Spanning several decades, it was well crafted and executed. All the required plates left spinning in the air until it was their turn to drop. At just the right moments. I've enjoyed his previous outings but here Vogel really comes into his own as he goes up against something he really didn't see coming. Unlike most series coppers, he is steadfast and not at all stereotyped or caricatured. A refreshing change indeed. I felt for him several times along the way as he tried to make sense of what had happened and why. Despite all and sundry trying to lead him astray. And then the ending...!
All in all a good addition to a series that is now well established. Can't wait to see what the author has in store next time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Severn House for the eARC.
Detective David Vogel investigated the apparent suicide of a young mother and the husband is the main and only suspect when it is deemed the suicide is actually a murder. The woman had been suffering from severe nightmares, causing her to barely sleep from the fear of them. Vogel doggedly pursues his instincts despite the higher ups wanting to close the case asap. Another death seems like a terrible accident, but Vogel is sure it is murder again. It looks like the woman's past is the answer to the mystery.
This was a really good read with a satisfying ending; I had a hard time putting it down. I liked Vogel, he's a steadfast, quietly impressive detective with morals and a good home life, which has become rare in today's mysteries. A welcome change! Highly recommended.

For fans of detective fiction in the British tradition this is a must. It is more your PD James than Val McDermid so will suit those who prefer a more sanitised murder (if that can be said of any murder) with less gore and torture – mind you still the same result!

In this David Vogel is our Detective Inspector called in to investigate an apparent suicide of a young married mother of twins. I have never met DI Vogel before, but I liked him, not flashy, not given to flights of fancy, but reliable, responsible and very clearly a holder of high standards. A regular good old sort – a thoroughly decent chap. Now the plot – well that was very satisfactory too, the characters were interesting, perhaps a bit two dimensional or clichéd but it all worked and I was left feeling very satisfied with the whole thing.

Can’t say fairer than that. So if, proper policing (with the usual interference from those higher ups) is your bag, and you like thoroughly decent cops – this one is for you – a fair cop!

Thank you to the author, publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.

I never repeat the blurb. Absolutely loved this. A slow-ish start (probably more down to me than the book) but then I absolutely devoured it and am scouring the shelves by more from this lady. Highly recommended.

Suicide? Murder, conspiracy and cover up aspects of all leads to a gripping storyline. David Vogels grim determination and endurance leads him to think he has brought these crimes to a conclusion however his boss, Nobby Clarke and those above her shut him down. Which leads him to thoughts of resignation which thankfully he did not persue. Enabling the reader to catch up with him in future stories.

DI David Vogel has taken on the case of what at first appeared to be a suicide. Jane Ferguson’s mental health was severely affected by the vivid nightmares she had, so when her little girl found her hanging in the family home, everyone assumed she had killed herself. Vogel quickly learns that Jane was actually murdered, and her husband is at the top of the suspect list, and what began as a routine investigation becomes something else entirely when a family’s decades old secrets come to light