Contemporary themes and characters make this intense police procedural, addictive reading. The story compellingly explores disturbing themes, and the reader experiences the highs and lows of the investigation in an immersive way. The characters are distinctive and believably written. The balance of personal and professional adds to the realism. The inclusion of the antagonist's viewpoint adds emotion makes the reader see the other side of the violence. The connections and twists are well written, and the ending is impactful.

This is the second book I've read in the series.

I received a copy of this book from One More Chapter via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

When a man is found partially burned & with teeth missing in the middle of an office it looks like the victim is the husband of a probation officer. Before long there is another body with similar injuries. Maggie Jamieson & her colleagues struggle to find the links between the victims as well as catch the murderer. It seems this might go back to cases of child abuse that were never properly investigated. Dr Kate returns to the team & makes a valuable addition to the team.

This is the fifth in the series & the third one I have read. It has been good to see Maggie develop as I found her irritatingly immature to start with. This was a really good read. Thanks to Netgalley & publisher for letting me read & review this book

If you haven't read the previous books in the series I would suggest going back, whilst you could read this as a standalone you miss out on so much background. In this book we see DC Maggie Jamieson investigating a pretty horrific crime, someone is set on fire and teeth extracted. It also looks like the killer may just be getting started. As the violence/murderer escalates Maggie needs to investigate all angles and soon finds there is more to these killings than meets the eye.

Being book five we have gotten to know the characters and for some of us really love and invest in them. Maggie is all work work work but also looks out for her brother and we get a wee peek into her personal relationships. Her parents, her brother and in previous books we have seen Maggie go back and forth on her personal life, sexuality, pro and cons of dating and the object of her reluctant affections. Maggie is complex which makes her relatable, she champions for her victims, wants to get the right person and do a good job. She is loyal, an animal lover and honest, she is a good egg and good at what she does, I am a fan!

We see other characters we have met before, coming back, character development, I love that especially when invested in a series. The killings are brutal, graphic and Holten paints a very vivid picture, not for the faint hearted or if you are offended by swearing! Been a fan since book one and very much looking forward to seeing what is in store next for our crew, 4/5 for me this time.

I always look forward to reading a new novel in the DC Maggie Jamieson series by Noelle Holten and I thoroughly enjoyed the latest book, Dead Mercy. Maggie is on the hunt for a sadistic killer and it is clear very early on that they are planning more murders. But what connects the killer’s victims? Can Maggie and her team find the killer before it’s too late?

I really wanted to know what reason the killer had for deciding to take this path. Maggie and her team have to delve into the killer’s psychology if they are to have any hope of finding out who they are and why they are doing this. When this becomes clearer, harrowing and disturbing details emerge and I was turning the pages faster and faster.

It’s always great to catch up with Maggie and her team and I can’t believe that we’re five books into the series now. I think the team work really well together. What I liked about this book was how Noelle explored Maggie’s growing relationship with reporter, Julie Noble. Julie, herself, becomes involved in the investigation and it makes me wonder if she will work with Maggie and the team again. I’m looking forward to seeing how Noelle will develop this further.

Once again the pace never drops and I was fascinated by the layers Noelle continues to build on as the series progresses. We also get to see Maggie’s relationship with her parents explored a little further in this book and I thought this was really intriguing. I could feel the emotion in Maggie’s voice as she was speaking to her mum and dad. But I don’t want to say anything more about that here.

As I said earlier, as the team begin to realise what is going on here, Noelle tackles some pretty tough themes, which might be upsetting to some readers, but Noelle does handle the topic sensitively.

Noelle’s writing always keeps you on the edge of your seat and that’s what keeps me coming back to her books. They are always really gripping and entertaining. Noelle has definitely written another winner here.

'Eeny meeny, miny mo, who's the next that's going to go?'

Dead Mercy begins with a fire at a local insurance company, Maggie and the team are brought in to investigate when a body is found inside the building, the victim is badly burned and some of its teeth are missing. The team are unsure what this all means but as time passes and more murders occur with the same, or similar, MO they are determined to find the link which will lead them to their killer, aptly named 'The Staffordshire Scorcher' by journalist Julie Noble, then they unearth a clue which leads to a historical case which was covered up and the culprits evaded prosecution. It's now down to Maggie and the rest of the team to fill in the missing pieces before they are presented with another victim.

This is the latest in the DC Jamieson series and, as before, it hits the ground running. Holten, with her expertise and knowledge of the probation service delivers a well executed story, with plausible characters evolving with each book that she produces. Its a fast paced read with short chapters that kept me intrigued throughout, with a few twists along the way before the perpetrator is finally revealed. It's a tale of wrongdoings and revenge and Holten doesn't hold back with the graphic detail. As with her previous books, you can read this as a standalone, but they're best read in order to follow the characters backgrounds properly.

I'd like to thank HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and Netgalley for the approval, I will post my review on Amazon and Goodreads.

I do enjoy this series because it has a multi-layered approach to policing, mirroring what happens in practice and allowing Noelle Holten to spread the load of a big case between agencies, with detection, probation, social services and violent offending all playing a part in her books and giving scope for a range of different characters to dip in and out of the books.

This time Maggie is working closely with the probation service. All the time I was reading this book I was getting a prickling up and down the back of my neck. There’s a layer of authenticity here that feels so real and so it was not a great surprise to me when I googled and found that the book is rooted in real cases that occurred in Holten’s bailiwick.

And that’s why these books work quite so well. You get great characters – impetuous Maggie; Nathan showing that he can handle the role of Maggie’s boss with calm and equanimity; Kat, who’s settling in to her role but is brusque and impatient. Dr Kate Moloney, consultant psychiatrist is also back now and it’s just as well, for the team have a serial killer on their hands and profiling is going to be important to pin down this perpetrator’s identity.

It’s also good to see Maggie at home, seeing how her job and her home life overlap as she worries about her brother, has a difficult relationship with her parents and is trying to work out her feelings towards the local crime reporter, Julie Noble.

But why they work is because although the actual cases in the book are fictional, there’s more than enough reality around both the policing methods and the crimes to make them feel authentic.

Dead Mercy is a dark book, dealing with some very grim crimes and it’s one of those areas where, though there’s no justification for the levels of violence and for murder, nevertheless you can’t help feeling sorry for those who were victims even if that led to more violence and further criminality.

Verdict: Dead Mercy is a sad tale of revenge, deadly intent and little mercy, despite the title. It is a tense and thrilling read. Often emotive, well-paced and incredibly intense, it combines great characters with powerful drama, but mostly it is a tale of broken people and how little we do to help them. That’s what stays with me as I think about it now.

When a man is found bound to a chair and burned to death it's initially thought he is the husband of one of Maggie Jamieson’s probation colleagues. It then comes to light that the victim is actually a handyman who was decorating the office.. It seems it could be a case of mistaken identity but then another body is found, killed in the same way and DC Maggie Jamieson and the team have to try to find a link between the two. Both victims worked at now closed children's care homes that were investigated after allegations of abuse were made by some of the children who stayed there.
Is someone out for revenge because the case was dropped? As they dig deeper the team find others linked to the homes who could be at risk but it will be a race to find the killer before more victims are claimed.
It’s great to be back with Maggie, Kat, Nathan and Dr Kate. The story has a strong opening and it just builds and builds, never letting the pace drop.
Noelle Holten never disappoints. I have thoroughly enjoyed every single one of the Maggie Jamieson books. They are all different but all totally engrossing. The characters, the crimes, just brilliantly written.

Dead Mercy is book Five in the DC Maggie Jamieson series by Noelle Holten. You could read it as a standalone but I always recommend reading from the beginning so that you get to know the characters and their backgrounds. This will also give you an understanding of why they might react to the situations they find themselves in.

This book deals with quite an emotive subject and my feelings towards the killer were torn, part of me was "Yay! Go wreak revenge! Make them pay!" and the other was "Oh actually, what you did there was quite terrible and you should be held to account!". The serial killer has a very specific and brutal way of torturing then dispatching their victims and it's up to Maggie and her team to find the link between them and try to stop the killer before their revenge list is all ticked off.

It was great to see the return of Dr Kate Moloney after her taking time away from her work after the events of book three (Dead Perfect). She always brings a calmness to the proceedings and often has an insight that Maggie has missed.

Dead Mercy is probably the darkest in the series, dealing with historic abuse and negligence from all the agencies involved, be prepared to be chilled, horrified and outraged!

All in all another fantastic addition to the series.

I love the DC Maggie Jamieson series and it just goes from strength to strength. Maggie can be a difficult character to get to know but I enjoy how she seems to open up slightly more with each instalment. Her relationships with her colleagues and the other characters in the novel are always intriguing and I loved seeing how these grew in Dead Mercy.

Holten addresses some brutal and gruesome crimes in Dead Mercy and I love that she does not shy away from giving us the gory detail. It is clear that the crimes in the novel are horrific, but there are also some chapters from the point of view of the killer and these details make the novel incredibly engaging and difficult to put down.

It is clear that the author has undertaken a lot of research and is very knowledgeable about the procedures she uses in Dead Mercy. This allows her to plot her work immaculately so that there are lots of red herrings and the reveals are always exciting.

Holten has definitely made herself one of my favourite crime writers. I will always look out for her work and I can't wait to see what the future holds.

There’s another serial killer on the loose – or if Dr Kate’s right with her profiling and victimology, perhaps there might just be more than one. But from the story that unfolds as the police team and the other agencies they work with peel back the layers, it’s clear someone is looking for justice – there are clues from the way the victims are selected and their bodies treated that point towards a series of wrongs from the past and an almost understandable thirst for revenge. The whole investigation forms the backbone of the book, and it’s all quite wonderfully done, with all the meticulous work to establish the links and avoid the blind alleys they’re sometimes led down – all those small breakthroughs that set them back on the path to uncovering their killer, the many hours of sheer slog and the mental exhaustion that ensues, and the challenges of working with a range of other agencies who all have their own rules and agendas.

As always, what I really love about the author’s writing is her characterisation. DC Maggie Jamieson always draws the eye – with that focus and determination that often makes her a touch (mmm, maybe more than a touch…) abrasive around her colleagues, although I particularly loved the development of her working relationship with partner Cat and her constant sparring with boss Nathan as he struggles to rein her in. Her vulnerability is again in evidence though – I really enjoy the glimpses of her personal life with her concerns about her brother, her uneasy early relationship with journalist Julie (brought in to work more closely with the team this time – that proves difficult!), and all the small domestic detail that helps make her a really well-rounded character.

The police team and the relationships between them is exceptionally well done – I’ve always been rather a fan of DI Rutherford, now carrying an even heavier workload after the events of the last book, and her personal story develops a little further. And I’ve always been really taken with Bethany – her reluctance to move into the spotlight, the quiet hours she spends at her computer digging out the detail, establishing the facts. And there’s always an exceptional feeling of authenticity about the procedural side of things – all those little interactions with other agencies, the friendships that have developed, the trading of favours as Maggie tries to push the boundaries that hamper progress.

And in this book, I also enjoyed the quiet voice of the killer as they home in on their next victim – and there’s that constant ambivalence between sympathy for the reasons balanced by the horror of the trail of murder and mutilation they create. The final outcome is very satisfying – the climactic scenes are real edge-of-the-seat reading, wonderfully dramatic – and I really didn’t see it coming. But the whole story really is quite perfectly paced – short chapters (something I always rather like in a thriller – that irresistible urge to read “just one more” as you head into the early hours…), tension and anticipation that have your heart racing, but also that perfect balance between the grinding monotony of the nuts and bolts of the investigation and the fireworks and explosions that interrupt it.

You’ll know that crime thrillers really aren’t my usual reading, but I entirely love this series – this book was better than ever, and I’m already looking forward to the next one. Highly recommended to all.

I know I said that I was going to take a break from this author after the prior two novels didn't work for me, but when I saw the synopsis for this one, I just knew I had to take a chance.

And I am so glad I did! For me, this novel seemed like it had everything the prior ones were missing. There was the perfect balance between "in the field" police procedural and actual action to keep the reader engaged and interested. Maggie seemed like a more toned-down version of herself, which to me suggested growth as a character and it was nice to see her not be so in your face all of the time. I think the entire team works well together, each bringing something useful to the table (and to the investigation).

One of the more interesting aspects of this story (for me anyway) was the fact that during the dual POV (one being Maggie herself while the other is told from the perspective of the killer) the reader starts to be able to understand why the killer is targeting these people and even, to a certain extent, empathize with them. It made the story more interesting from a readers perspective, and I was curious to see how the author would choose to wrap it up.

Filled with surprising twists and turns, a few red-herrings, and more than a couple of shady characters (I was starting to think that everyone involved in this investigation had secrets), this book was one that I struggled to put down. I needed to know what was going to happen next, and if Maggie and her team were ever going to be able to stop the killer before he finished his list.

A final thing that I think is worth mentioning is that unlike the prior novels, this one did not end on a cliff-hanger that sets up the next book, but rather on a more personal one (at least for Maggie). This fact makes me feel curious about where the author plans to take these characters next instead of obligated to continue on the way I have in the past. I will read more from this author (especially if she plans to continue the DC Maggie Jamieson series).

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

Each book is just getting stronger and stronger and better and better. This was a tough storyline to read but it was still ever so riveting and handled with care.

At the start of the book, so many OMFG left my mouth as I had forgotten how explosive Book 4 had finished, I had to re-read the end to remind myself of it all. Some of it still hurt and then the other was just shocking. Dead Mercy follows on shortly after as we watch life in the team adjust to the events while trying to catch a sadistic killer. What a story.

It is hard this time for me to review, but what I will say is that I felt for the killer this time. I “got” why they were doing what they were doing and that hurt. Their pain became my pain and never have I ever felt more than it was justified than here, despite it being wrong. I mean nothing is ever justified but you know the why all the way through, and it was saddening and tough, I even had to look up Pindown, and that led me down a rabbit hole of jaw drops as it was. But overall, the who, well that was just a shock and I did not see it coming.

It was great to be back with the team. Over these 5 books, I am always excited to be back with them, watching them work together not only in their unit but across other agencies. Seeing the names crop up as they all work together to solve the crime.

An edge of your seat thriller and another Holten corker. I was hooked from the opening pages and I didn’t want to sleep as I tried to figure out who our unnamed murder was. I do hope it’s not the end of the Maggie series, but what a series it has been so far!

Dead Mercy is the fifth book in the Maggie Jamieson crime thriller series by Noelle Holton and although I hadn’t read the previous books it was easy to read as a standalone.
In short, it’s a tough grisly case for DC Maggie Jamieson which involves a disturbing historical case which was let down by the system and it’s deadly consequences years later. There’s a killer on the lose who shows no mercy in his quest for vengeance, stopping at nothing to get what he wants.
It’s a fast, hard hitting case with plenty of action and a tense plot involving different agencies. I thoroughly enjoyed Dead Mercy, it has great believable characters and an enlightening ride through the criminal justice system…it’s no surprise to read that the author, Noelle, has 18 years experience in the probation service. Noelle sums up her time in the probation service perfectly, “If you think something sounds unbelievable - don’t be so sure - fact is often stranger than fiction!”
If you enjoy a good, solid police procedural book, you will love this story.
Big thanks to Noelle Holton, HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for this eARC which I chose to read in return for my honest review.

Visceral and spine-tingling from the start - Dead Mercy sees DC Maggie Jamieson in an awkward situation. There is a  murder is brutal as brutal can be where the victim may be related to a probation officer under her wing. Then the bodies really start to rack up. It's dark, harrowing and yet, perhaps because you're at home or somewhere safe and the writing is strong, it's not only going to give you a shiver down the spine with the dark tension created, but pulls you into its twists and turns as Maggie really digs deep and pushes hard to track down the killer.

There's also a journalist digging around the investigation, which almost displeases Maggie as she is concerned that she will say or do something that will tip off the murderer that the police are onto the person who is committing such heinous crimes. There are pretty dark secrets that start to emerge. It's an enthralling rollercoaster read that has much grit within it.

The veil is pulled back on the criminal justice system in the UK in a fictional sense, but gives readers a sense of it through some of the details and plot drive.

The book, although part of a series can be read as a stand alone too. All in all, it's a strong book!

Dead Mercy is the 5th book in the Maggie Jamieson series however if you haven’t read the others you’re in for a treat. They all work fine as a stand alone and there is enough information to fill you in but for the strong character development and to fully understand all the link I highlight recommend you read them in order form the beginning.
DC Maggie Jamieson is back again and just as exciting and tense as ever!
Now usually, Holten creates an absolute monster of a murder and in Dead Mercy she has excellent once again however, there is an added twist which makes the lines a lot more blurry than usual. The crime is horrific and brutal but the chapters told from the killer’s perspective did evoke some empathy and sadness in me.
One of my favourite aspect of Dead Mercy, and this series, is how Holten uses her personal experience and knowledge to create an investigation that goes beyond a detective and her team. She utilises and highlights inter-agency joint working which is fascinating. DC Jamieson ahs built a strong, reliable team around herself and it’s been brilliant watching it develop and go from strength to strength. It’s thrilling and addictive reading about them all working their different angles, piecing together the evidence and working through suspicions. I love the way the case unravels piece by piece, building the tension and keeping the pages turning until the very end.
Also, there is insight into the private lives of some character keeping the balance between the case and developing character stories.
It’s dark, disturbing and ridiculously addictive. Highly recommended.

This is such a gripping series and it just seems to get better with every new book released! Noelle Holten isn’t afraid to tackle difficult and emotive subjects and her previous work as a probation officer means that her storylines are authentic and well researched. Dead Mercy has at its heart a gripping and sometimes disturbing crime that DC Maggie Jamieson finds herself having a personal connection to so it’s more important than ever for her to solve it quickly.

What a love about this series is that I’ve come to know the main characters so well and every new meeting reveals more so the storyline feels realistically portrayed as though I’m reading about real people. Maggie herself is relatable and I loved catching up with her professional and personal life once again. The crime scene she’s first called out to is an horrific incident and there’s also a shocking revelation about who the victim could be. It quickly becomes obvious that there’s more to this crime than meets the eye and links to a cold case become apparent too. Sometimes the details were very harrowing to read but that’s probably because Noelle brings such detail to her plots which raises them to an almost visual experience.

If you’ve not read any of the previous books in this series then you certainly can read this as a stand-alone although I think you’d get more from it if you’ve met the characters previously. And I think that they still have more to give! This is a series that I never tire of and always look forward to. If you love gripping plotlines that challenge your preconceptions of the police and the agency’s they work with then Dead Mercy is a must read for you.

Highly recommended by me.

Dead mercy by Noelle Holten.
Dc Maggie Jamieson book 5.
A brilliant read. Great story and characters. I love this series. Gets better and better. I'm looking forward to the next book. 5*.

In this fifth book in the DC Maggie Jamieson series Maggie and the team find themselves on the trail of a vicious killer not satisfied with burning his victims whilst still alive he also removes some of their teeth.
The first victim turns out to be the husband of one of Maggie`s probation officer colleagues though before they can even hazard a guess at the reason he was killed the body count starts to rise.
What can be the link between the seemingly unconnected victims?
Their inquiries lead them to believe that they could be revenge killings linked to historical child abuse allegations made by boys in local care homes.
At the time no action was taken and the case was not pursued, now it looks like someone has decided to settle the score.
This series just gets better and better, you don`t need to have read the others in the series as it can be read as a standalone.However you will get so much more if you read them all in order, and get to know Maggie and the rest of the team as their characters develop and relationships are formed.
Can`t wait for the next instalment in what for me is a fantastic series.
Thanks to Netgalley and One more Chapter for sending me a copy to read and review.

Guess who's back,back again,Maggie's back,tell a friend.

DC Maggie Jamieson and the team return for the fifth instalment in this addictive, gritty police procedural series.

The discovery of the charred remains of a human corpse in the offices of Justin Hardy who is the husband of Maggie's friend Sarah is the catalyst for a complex and frustrating investigation that will not only put pressure on the women's friendship but also cause Maggie to suspect that Sarah knows more than she is revealing.

As the body count rises, Maggie and the team race against time to uncover the identity of a cunning killer who always seems to be able to stay one step ahead of them. As the investigation progressed, it eventually becomes apparent the case has dark insidious fingers that reach back into the past. Who was the killer? What were the motives behind their actions? When the dust settles, what repercussions will the case have on the lives of Maggie,the team and her relationships with her friends?

If you have read any of the other books in this brilliant series then you will know that despite the fact that the author doesn't shy away from writing about the darker sides of life, she always writes about her subject matter with sensitivity and this latest instalment is no exception. It is a sad reality of life that victims of certain crimes can find themselves left feeling ignored and dismissed by different agencies who are supposed to help and protect them. Even if the case does get to court, the victim can be made to feel they are on trial during questioning and can often be left traumatised by the experience. And if the accused is found guilty,the sentence they receive can very often be woefully inadequate and not reflect the seriousness of the crimes that were committed. It's not very difficult to understand why there are so many vigilante groups scattered across the world. Noelle Holten uses her experience as a former probation officer to take the reader behind the scenes of the various law enforcement agencies as we follow Maggie's investigation into the killer's crimes.

One of the many things that I love about this awesome series is that the author doesn't not down the flow of her stories with unnecessary facts and complicated information. I really like the various individuals who make up the police team,my stand out favourite being DS Kat Everett, I love her attitude and very often sarcastic comments. I love how well the team work together and how each character is given the opportunity to add their own input to the investigation. I was pleased that Kate was working once again with the team and helping them out together a profile of the killer, I love the friendship and interactions between Kate and Maggie. Unfortunately Julie Noble was still hanging around liked the proverbial bad penny, I really can't stand that woman, she seriously gets on my nerves. On the personal front, as well as having concerns about her brother Andy, after giving it some thought, Maggie decided that it was time to tell her parents the truth about her brother's whereabouts and her own sexuality.

Scattered throughout the story was chapters that were voiced from the perspective of the antagonist and have the reader a insight into the killer's thoughts and the reasons behind why they chose each victim. I understand that the killer's actions were morally wrong but as their shocking backstory was revealed, was it so wrong of me that I began to feel some sympathy for that individual.

As with the previous books in this incredible series Dead Mercy is a intelligently written, cleverly plotted,addictive page turner that keeps the reader guessing and glued to your kindle. The recurring cast of characters are a realistic bunch of individuals, people who you take into your heart and look forward to revisiting. Although this is the fifth book in the series,it can be read and enjoyed as a stand alone and I wouldn't hesitate in recommending this incredible series to any readers who enjoy curling up with dark and gritty thrillers that are guaranteed to leave you wanting more.

Another absolutely fantastic book from Noelle. This was definitely my favourite of the series so far. I loved how the characters interacted and the how they solved the case.