This is #11 in the DI Nick Dixon series but can easily be read as a standalone.

I was looking forward to reading this as it’s set in an area that I know very well, and I wasn’t disappointed.

There are several cases of sheep being killed by a crossbow and when a body turns up, killed in the same way, it’s clear to Nick that the perpetrator was using the sheep for practice shots. The organised crime unit take over the case as they’re sure it was a gangland killing, but then another body is found – with connections to the first body – so Nick’s team take on the case.

Nick’s partner is a DS, and there’s just enough about their private lives to be interesting but not to negatively affect the story.

This was a great thriller with an unexpected ending, and I’ll definitely be reading more of the DI Nick Dixon books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

This is the first DI Nick Dixon book I’ve read, and I really enjoyed it. I think I would have enjoyed it even more if I had read the previous books, but I will certainly check them out when I’m short of a good story. There’s nothing I like more than a detective who breaks the rules! This was a complex case where connections between the murders are hard to find. I admit I got a bit confused at times but, bit by bit, the jigsaw was completed and all became clear. A very well-written book, with an intriguing and unusual plot and interesting characters. Monty the dog added to my enjoyment! A great read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advanced copy in return for an honest review.

My Thanks to Netgalley and to publishers Thomas and Mercer for an ARC of this novel in return for an honest review. Having thoroughly enjoyed several of Damien Boyd’s Inspector Nick Dixon novels I was full of anticipation. I wasn’t disappointed. It was fast-paced, believable and very difficult to put down. Well written in straightforward English, but with plenty of intriguing conundrums, it was everything I look for in a detective story. The knowledge of police procedure also seemed good to an outsider. There was a bit of a back story to the main characters to add some interest, but it didn’t intrude. The author had obviously well-researched crossbows and bolts as well as pensions and tax scams.

Nick Dixon, now promoted to Chief Inspector, finds himself marooned behind a desk, spending a lot of time in seemingly meaningless meetings. Until that is a local farmer blocks the station entrance with his tractor pulling a trailer containing the six rotting carcases of some of his best sheep. They’ve been shot through the head using a crossbow. This is the third time this has happened and the farmer wants some action. Dixon decides to oblige. When his suspicions are confirmed and the first body is found shot with a crossbow he becomes involved.

Another huge pleasure for me is that these books are set in my area of the country. I know many of these places well. I travelled every mile of the way in my mind with these characters. I walked the streets of Bristol with them. I was particularly impressed by the briefest mention of a local police station having been closed and rehoused in the neighbourhood fire station. Completely accurate. One of the addresses visited by the police is literally around a few corners from my house. I will be walking down there, but am expecting to find the house number and the building itself are fictitious. Big action-packed climax, near the end of the book, takes place on the Downs in Bristol, near the Observatory at night. Very dramatic. I know it well, For me it all reinforces the authenticity and detailed research that has gone into this writing. I can’t recommend the book enough if you are a lover of well-written detective fiction. I shall now be catching up on the back novels I have so far missed.

One of my favourite “ fireside” authors no matter what the weather and this 11th book in the series does not disappoint. The now DCI Nick Dixon takes an interest when first sheep are shot and then the quarry moves from four legs to two. The fact they are all murdered with a crossbow makes it more specific and soon becomes apparent they are linked in some perverse way and not some random act. Going beyond his remit (nothing new there) Dixon pieces together the act of revenge that is taking its toll from a sunken yacht to a cliff edge. Good job he was wearing his vest! Really enjoyed and grateful to NetGalley and publishers for the arc.

Oh how I loved this book. This is a cracking series and it was like meeting up again with old friends and so good to be back in the company of Dixon and Jane et al. A great main plot that twists and turns in addition to having a brilliant twist in the end.
A great addition to this series. Number 11 in the series and a credit to the author that it’s as fresh as ever and as good as if not better then the preceding 10

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. First time I have read anything from this author and shall certainly be changing that. Fast paced edge of your seat thriller with a great storyline and characters. I really enjoyed it.

DCI Nick Dixon is fed up with the paperwork that has come with his promotion. He just wants to get out of the office and work on a proper case.
When a farmer turns up complaining about his sheep being killed with a crossbow Nick is at first dismissive. Until he realises that the violence behind each kill has been increasing.
Then a man is found dead pinned to a tree by crossbow bolts. Organised Crime think it’s to do with drugs but Nick is convinced that this is what the sheep killer was practicing for.
Organised crime isn't going to let the case go, until another body killed in the same way turns up and it becomes obvious that Nick was on to something. Quickly assembling a murder investigation team Nick must find out what links the two murders because he is sure that the killer won’t stop until he is caught.
Very well written with realistic characters and an unusual crime.

Dying Inside is book eleven in the DCI Nick Dixon series about a tenacious rule-breaking detective and his loyal team, solving murders in Somerset. If you’re not worried about characters’ backstories, you could enjoy this as a stand-alone but you’ll get much more out of this series if you read them in order. I’ve enjoyed them all and the quality has not dipped at all.
This one centres on a couple of British financial fiascos that I had not heard of, but was quickly able to confirm through google are real - the Loan Charge saga and UK pensions scams. While that sounds boring, the way these are dealt with made them anything but, so I felt like I learned something along the way, while engrossed in another well-crafted mystery.

Dixon has recently been promoted and is struggling with being chained to his desk by boring management duties, so when a disgruntled farmer threatens to dump dead sheep on the steps of his police station, he’s happy to find out more. Discovering that they were killed by increasingly powerful crossbow bolts, he worries who the next target may be. Soon after, a dodgy accountant is found pinned to a tree by similar bolts, but the local organised crime unit wants the case. Dixon never gives up, and when another victim with no gang connections is found, he is finally able to take over the investigation and run it his own way. Can he catch this crafty killer in between performance reviews and team meetings?

Having got to know Dixon over the course of the series, I could appreciate the subtle humour of his situation - sneaking around to avoid his bosses, scheming to extricate himself from boring meetings and only just keeping his temper when confronted by idiots. I do really like his relationship with his fiancée Jane, and budding friendship with slow but solid PC Nigel.
The crimes here are fairly gruesome - the sheep killings were more distressing to me than the human murders, but you don’t ever see any of them happening so it isn’t too dark.
The plot got a bit complicated with multiple minor characters to keep track of, but it all makes sense in the end. If you like intelligent authentic police procedurals, don’t miss this series.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley and am posting this review voluntarily.
Dying Inside is available now.

Another excellent DCI Nick Dixon story! I love a really good police procedural, and this is indeed that. Well worth reading the series and this just keeps delivering. A great main character, superb plotting, humour and also the setting is well described and adds to the storytelling. Very much recommend!

Damien Boyd always delivers. An excellent read with a very engaging story line. All the familiar characters were there to support Nick Dixon with his latest conundrum. 70% through the book and you thought it was all sorted, then the twists and turns appeared to a brilliant finale. Totally recommend it. Roll on the next one.

This is a well crafted and well written police procedural from Damien Boyd. The plot is intriguing and the characters are well developed, with complex and interesting relationships. I was kept interested right to the last page, so, overall it's an exciting read which I would recommend. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Dying Inside is the eleventh instalment in the Detective (Chief) Inspector Nick Dixon series set in and around Bridgwater, Somerset. Having recently been promoted, the Avon and Somerset DCI, Nick Dixon, is snowed under with more paperwork than he's ever seen in his life. Used to being on the beat, he wonders if he's going to be suited to tedious desk work and a management role and is bursting at the seams to find a case to investigate already. So when a farmer approaches him about a truck full of dead sheep he grabs the opportunity with both hands, although it's hardly the crime of the century. However, Nick recognises, as all decent officers should, that animal torture and killing frequently leads to the psychotic individual desiring bigger thrills and a more extensive adrenaline rush which means escalating their behaviour and slaughtering human prey. This isn't the first time the farmer’s flock has been targeted by a crossbow-wielding maniac, however, and each time it happens the shots appear to be becoming more accurate. Is this a cruel and disturbing training mechanism? When sketchy accountant Godfrey Collins is found impaled to a tree by several powerful crossbow bolts, one in his head, the second in the chest and another in his eye, Nick realises his instinct was right. Godfrey had been up to his neck in organised crime.

The yacht he owned, Sunset Boulevard II, had been used for drug runs but recently capsized mid-Atlantic and two hundred and sixty kilos of cocaine went to the bottom of the ocean; it had street value of about twenty million and that certainly cannot have gone down well with the mob bosses. Then another body is discovered, this time it's a manager at HMRC who was investigating fraud perpetrated by a business known as Clearwater Wealthcare who defrauded thirty-one million pounds from two hundred and two clients. James Bowen and Miranda Mather, the couple behind the pension scam were found with crossbows to the head in the Costa Del Sol the previous day. Can Nick decipher what links these victims before anyone else perishes? This is a compulsive and exciting procedural from the off and is packed with action, wicked twists and turns, devious red herrings and a complex plot woven to perfection. It is a series that is so believable, realistic and authentic that you cannot help but be riveted. The attention to detail and captivating mystery really ramp up the tension propelling everything along superbly and continue to keep you guessing. Dixon is a highly likeable protagonist who refuses to be more hands-off and managerial and he proves that his intelligence will be sorely wasted if he merely sits behind a desk as instructed. Highly recommended.

I loved this book. Firstly because it is set in the area in which I grew up, but also because it is such a clever, well-written story. I couldn't guess the ending at all, and the way in which the various threads link together is clever, but believable. The main characters are appealing, and I will definitely be looking out for more books from the author.

This is my first Nick Dixon book. It was a very enjoyable read.
I enjoyed the humor and the progression of the plot with a few twists.
I highly recommend it.

I have read all the previous Damien Boyd DI Nick Dixon books and this was as good and an enjoyable read as all the others. Dixon is now promoted to DCI and as usual we have a page turning story with all the usual characters plus Monty the dog. Always interesting plot lines with several twists, already looking forward to the next book in the series.to see whether Dixon makes it to Superintendent.

With Nick Dixon, Damien Boyd has created a character that the reader can feel safe with. He has no superhuman powers, he is just an intelligent police officer with the desire to see justice done rather than tick-box justice.

Dixon does not follow the sheep and say what his commanding officers want, he seeks the truth, despite it being unpopular.

Mr Boyd seems to have researched his weaponry and writes authoritatively on the subject, which is always a bonus. The story develops at a good pace and leads the reader without producing twists which have no place in the book. Not all of Mr Boyd's criminals are painted as evil and the reader sometimes has a moral decision to make as to whether the course of action chose by Dixon sits well with the reader's idea of right and wrong, at the same time not being able to disagree with how Dixon handles the issues.

I have read all of the Nick Dixon books and this is up there with the best.

Dixon does not want the politics that come with being a high ranking officer so, without hopefully generating a spoiler, it will be very interesting to see what Mr Boyd delivers up next in the series.

This is another of my favourite series which has only got better as it has gone along, with absolutely no signs of flagging. We're now at book 11 and it looks like there are those who would prefer DCI Nick Dixon to take a less hands on approach to things and stay behind the desk he has been promoted to. One of those who disagree is Nick himself and so when a farmer approaches him with a truck full of dead sheep, he literally jumps at the chance to help. Further investigation reveals that this is the third such spate of dead sheep for this farmer - all having been shot with what looks to be a crossbow. The method being refined and perfected more each time. Nick is intrigued by this and when soon after he hears that there's a dead body pinned to a tree by crossbow bolts, can't wait to make a connection and, despite it being the territory of the organised crime unit, can't help but stick his nose in.
And he does this all whilst ignoring the powers that be who are hounding him over his promotion and relocation...
In Nick Dixon the author has created a great cop. He's not like most you'd find in this genre book. His only health issue is his diabetes, and he is settled in his relationship, the only issue there being Jane also being a cop and having been sidelined out of his team due to that. This means that although I would always advocate starting a series from book one and reading in order, with this one I'd say you could read most as stand alones. As with all his previous books, the author has taken the time and effort and done his research. But, that said, it was all necessary for Nick and his team to know to be able to better do their jobs. I quite admire Nick's work and life ethos, especially the way he falls back on the simple things to clear his head - walking with Monty being my favourite. He's a smart cookie and methodical and the crime in this book really lends itself to this way of investigating.
So, with an intriguing plot, cracking characters - both main and extras - and delivered in a no nonsense way with no superfluous padding, this book was gripping from start to finish and left me, at its conclusion, wholly satisfied. Roll on book 12...
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Another complete novel by Damien Boyd.
What I mean by that? Simply: Here is a crafted and thoughtful police procedure where you feel able to commit yourself as a reader.

So many books become bogged down and you lose your way; with little interest to read on and get to the end.

When you have a familiar author you feel safe and know that your investment of time will be well rewarded. Furthermore, the book offers you more going forward and you want to understand the unfolding mystery.

That trust in a writer brings a sense of loyalty in a reader like me and a familiar set of characters help to reinforce this relationship in what is now the 11th outing for DI Nick Dixon and his team.

When an increasing level of violence seems to be befalling a local sheep farmer, Nick is the only one who sees this as an example of escalation, perhaps, even leading to murder. Newly, promoted he should be taking a less active role and using management skills more. Yet we find him no better than a young child trying to avoid his boss and sneaking away from his desk, investigating the sheep killing in person.

With great humour Boyd sets up the crime brilliantly and uses new personnel as well as familiar faces to open the case up.

I enjoyed it from the start, never more so than when Monty, the dog is on the page. The quiet times dog walking is the normality for Nick; a time to recharge and relax while reviewing his thoughts on the crimes and unfolding drama. All detectives seem to need someone or something to refocus or sound off to. Whether a Watson, a violin or a stimulating substance or depressant. I love Nick’s interactions with his loyal companion and the moments leading to debates over barbed wire and criminal damage.

Now, although number eleven in books published, this is a series you can meet fresh and take up at each stage along that journey. Like those preceding books, “Dying Inside“ can be read as a stand-alone novel, however it will have you borrowing or buying more as soon as possible.

Hints to past events never cloud the current investigation or delay the action. They are the items that are filed and recalled within the narrative; they provide that richer tapestry of text and content.

This is a complex case where connections are hard to find, even as the body count increases. No stone is left unturned and the numbers of personnel required to review evidence is very realistic as always. We are taken through the plot with no greater knowledge than the detective team. It is Dixon leading the way but this remains a team effort and others feel able to make suggestions or question its direction.

Finally, the book delivers without sleight of hand, unforeseen participants or withheld clues. All is in plain sight, yet so wonderfully packaged, just like a pictorial jigsaw puzzle and seemingly only Dixon can join the dots.

Thank you Mr B for another excellent Nick Dixon book, could not quite manage it in one sitting as I do need to sleep. Winced every time the bolts were mentioned. Now waiting for the arrival of book 12.

This was my first exposure to this series and I really do need to read more. The book was engrossing and I really wanted to know more.

I learnt a lot re financial crimes and cross bows.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for my advance review copy, this is no way influenced my review.