DCI Craig Gillard and his team are working on a spate of burglaries on wealthy homes. Things are fairly quiet, and Gillard is sure the cases will be cleared up soon.
The NCA have taken over a floor in the station, they have a former money launderer under surveillance, convinced he will soon be up to his old tricks and lead them to some bigger fish.
Before long Gillard finds himself involved in the NCA's case as well as looking after his own but as they close in on their suspect Gillard could be putting his career and his life on the line.
I really enjoyed this pacy crime novel it had me hooked from the first page. It's perfect for fans of Cara Hunter and MJ Lee.

Another episode in the DCI Graig Gilliard series but unusually this time there’s little mention of his home life or his aunt across the road! The main story this time concentrates on several other characters from children to their families, one a money launderer , to a violent criminal in a U S high security prison. All excitingly told it races along to a high tension ( in more ways than one) conclusion. Good fun!

Although I had other books ahead of the new Nick Louth on my NetGalley shelf, I immediately went to The Body in the Stairwell and was not disappointed. As in his other DCI Gillard mysteries, I was hooked from page 1. Even the character of the infamous Hale was interesting, and I must admit I learned a lot about money laundering.

I think it was also made more interesting because the emphasis was on Gillard's policing and not his homelife. And the ending was terrific as well.

The Body in the Stairwell is the tenth book in the DCI Craig Gillard police procedural series set in Surrey. I’ve read them all in order, but each is a separate mystery or thriller and this would work fine as a stand-alone if you’re new to the series. This one has Gillard involved in a complex money laundering case, which puts an innocent family at risk - a welcome change from complicated murders and serial killers!

Gillard is reluctantly seconded on to the investigation of a crooked lawyer, Jonathan Hale, who has been hiding out in Surrey with his family after ratting out some nasty American drug dealers in exchange for a reduced sentence. The police have him under surveillance in the hope that he will lead them to other criminals further up the chain, which Gillard feels is using resources better spent elsewhere. Meanwhile, in a maximum security penitentiary in Arizona, the nastiest drug dealer of them all, known as The Reptile, is quietly plotting his revenge…

This has become one of my must-read British crime series, as Gillard and his team deal with an unusual array of criminal activity, and some very unusual criminals. He’s often not the main part of the story, but always plays a key role. Here the focus is on conflicted disbarred money property lawyer Hale, who regrets the greed which brought monstrous psychopath Richard Tyler into his life, but is unable to find a way to keep his spoiled wife and child in the lifestyle to which they have become accustomed without returning to laundering money. Then there’s Zoe and Lucy, a pair of sisters who will make you afraid to ever have children - if it’s not too late already… The cat and mouse game, as Tyler cunningly locates his prey, and then sets his trap, was actually quite stressful to read about, and my heart was actually racing in the last third wondering whether they would all survive. Speaking of cats - I got very worried about poor Socks, but nothing terrible happens to him other than some very undignified photos on Instagram.

As with the previous book, this one is set in the midst of the Covid pandemic - not dwelling on it, but accepting it as part of modern life, which I totally respect - it certainly doesn’t get in the way of the plot. There were some elements introduced which I thought would become important later - like Hale’s disabled son, but then he’s never mentioned again so I wondered what the point was, unless it’s to increase our sympathy for him. The way the villain uses teenagers’ addiction to social media to carry out his plan should send a chill down your spine if it is too late and you already have children… yet another reason why cats are preferable 😹
4.5 rounded up for good writing and exquisite tension. Thanks to NetGalley and Canelo for the ARC. I am posting this honest review voluntarily. The Body in the Stairwell is published on September 22nd.

Another excellent book from Nick Louth in theCraig Gillard series. I couldn’t stop reading it and it was a real page turner. A bit different plot from the usual police procedural. Excellent.

Another fantastic read in the DCI Craig Gillard series from Nick Louth. The tension oozes from the pages from the first chapter, right to the last, in this rollercoaster of a read. The book is well plotted, with excellent characterisation, right down to Socks, the cat! Gillard is very likeable in this plot driven read, he cares for his team and the victims too. There is no murder to solve this time as the plot is focused on revenge and money laundering. It's an excellent read which I highly recommend. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC

I never repeat the blurb. Sometimes a little under par, this tale was right back on track. Fast paced and full of action. Loved ir.

I have read all the books in this series but this one fell short for me. Very slow to get into and far too much about the prison and not enough about the police. That said I would definitely read his next offering. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

Tenth in the series but, this time, DCI Gillard is rather fringe until well through the book. An American family have come to England to get away from threats to the husband who "told all" about money laundering. He's served his rather short sentence with the main perpetrators well ensconced in the US high security system, he believes. His daughter's friend and, by implication, daughter are targeted through social media, There are gaol-breaks, more murders and an awful lot of what seems highly plausible, given today's avid need for social media, scams. At one level it beggar's belief the naivety and gullibility of young people, but we all know that it happens all too frequently. DCI Gillard, whilst on the fringe throughout, is brought in at the last minute almost for the chase, kidnap negotiations and final denouement. Whilst the story does not develop his character that much it certainly focuses on just what can be achieved through social media. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

For the last few years, Nick Louth has been at the top of my favorite author list, and this last book confirmed why. WOW. Captivated me from the beginning and had me reading straight through the night. Believable characters, action packed plot, and a few surprises sprinkled in. A must read!
Money laundering is a lucrative business for Jon Hale, but comes at a hefty cos; the lives of his family and their friends. All the adults in this story are extremely wrapped up in their own lives, and three young girls can get themselves into a lot of danger! This is a race against the clock to save the girls, and for Jon to reevaluate what he will do moving forward.
A tiny cliff hanger at the end will keep me looking for the next Nick Louth book!
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A money launderer in the UK, feels that a villain he double-crossed in the USA, will one day escape from jail and seek out his revenge. Guess what happens?
Told from the perspective of the money launderer, his kids, the villain and the police, there is a lot to think-about.
The perils of social media, the extraordinary IT available these days to pursue villains and the lengths someone will go to, to seek revenge.
Once this thriller gets going, it does not let up. I was absolutely gripped and it proved to me that there is more to crime fiction than a whodunit.
Absolutely brilliant, don’t miss this one.
Thanks to NetGalley and Canelo Crime for providing me with an Advance Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Caveat: I was not aware that this was the 10th book in a series before reading so any conventions/ characteristics of the series were unknown to me.
The premise of the book interested me; I'm a sucker for a revenge tale ala Cape Fear or similar so was looking forward to reading this.
Ultimately it wasn't, personally, for me, although the author and series clearly have many fans out there and from what I've seen from other reviews those who have enjoyed the series to date have very much enjoyed this one.
It's a novel with a clear villain but I wasn't clear who the focus was really on. Learning that it is the 10th book in the DCI Callard series, one might expect it to be him - but he seemed a minor character with little agency in the book. There's the man for whom the villain of the piece is seeking revenge, his daughter, and her two friends. If anything, I would say the main characters were the three girls, but the focus seemed to shift constantly.
It's certainly a fast paced, constantly moving novel. Some readers have commented on how effective it is on highlighting how dangerous online social platforms can be (Not sure Facebook is the best model to use for teenage girls in 2022) and those nefarious enough to use it - here, the villain is able to overcome any barriers with little effort. For some it could make him a calculating ruthless villain; for others it might feel a stretch of the imagination.
Overall, this is clearly a popular series and my views may be dismissed if I've not really got the feel of it coming in so soon so any view should be taken with a big dose of salt.

This is the tenth book in the entertaining DCI Craig Gillard series. This book is unusual in that there is no murder to solve, rather it follows a surveillance operation on a known money launderer and the revenge of a man he helped put behind bars.
The book started off slowly but soon built up speed and ended up being a heart-stopping thriller. This is very much a plot driven story and it is an exciting and recommended read.

The Body in the Stairwell is the next instalment in the DCI Craig Gillard series and what a great one it is. Riveting and exciting I think this is the best yet.
Gillard still has his faithful team, his wife is now in early pregnancy and doing well, they are pretty much in the background this time around which works well. He is helping out in a new department investigating money laundering. This department is looking into accountant Jonathon Hale who played a big part in helping criminals to launder all their millions, when caught Hale gave up all the names of those involved for a reduced prison sentence. Now home he is been watched and listened closely to discover more of who the big players are and where the money is being filtered to.
Added to this we have an evil man incarcerated in a highly protected Arizona prison who is determined to escape to exact revenge, he was one of the conspirators given up by Hale.
There is so much happening in this story which is well described and page turning. The characters good and bad have great depth and hold your interest easily. With an exciting explosive conclusion it was a rollercoaster of a thoroughly absorbing read.
My thanks to Net galley, publisher and author for the opportunity to review this book honestly.

The latest book in a great series.
This one is not so much about DCI Gillard, although he is the main Police Officer, its more about the crime he's investigating.
An incarcerated psychopath in an American Prison is seeking revenge on the British Accountant who turned evidence against him. He only has the slightest slither of information about him. He knows his name and that he lives in the UK, and he knows his daughters first name.
When he gets his hands on a smart phone, with limited charge its a race against the battery to see if he can use that little bit of information to find a family that is in digital hiding, in fear of reprisals.
A timely tale of how social media stalking and grooming is so easy.

A new department has been installed at Mount Browne police station and DCI Craig Gillard is one of the only partially initiated. The high tech capabilities make his own office look primitive and he's feeling a bit miffed! Determined to use what he can to aid his own investigations and improve his clear up numbers Gillard suddenly finds himself moving into the centre of things after a devastating late night phone call.

Jonathan Hale is the reason for all the technology and secrecy but even if he knew what was happening a police investigation is the least of his problems. Hiding in plain sight he watches his back and worries about his family while constantly checking online for any change in the status of his nemesis. The man might be on a different continent to Hale but the English man is right to be concerned. As everything begins to unravel neither Gillard nor Hale has any idea how quickly things can change when a vengeful criminal begins to dictate what happens next.

This is the tenth book in Nick Louth's excellent DCI Craig Gillard series and is tension filled from the start. Told in four concurrent storylines, which sounds confusing but actually isn't, everything heads towards an explosive conclusion which is unputdownable and satisfactory in almost every way. This is different to most of the series as it isn't a whodunnit but rather a how and that how is probably the scariest part of all.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. This is an excellent series which is only enhanced by its latest installment. Highly recommended.

This is the tenth book in the DCI Craig Gillard series by author Nick Louth. This is a nice little series, quick, well written police procedural with interesting plots and good characters.

Jonathan Hale is a wealthy property lawyer and money launderer and is back home in Surrey following his experience in a a U.S. jail. Hale made a deal with the police to reduce his sentence by naming the big players in the crime. Accordingly he lives in fear of reprisals and is forced to live under the radar. Unbeknown to Hale the police have him under secret surveillance hoping to uncover more secrets.

One of the villains falling foul of Hale is now residing in a maximum security jail in Arizona and is still determined to gain revenge. Jonathan Hale may be in hiding, living in a new house and using a different identity but still lives in fear of his life.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Canelo for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, the Publisher and Author for this eARC.

This book is a good addition to an already good series and a read that I certainly enjoyed. DCI Gillard is such a down to earth relatable and believable character that you I just can’t help but like and root for. Here he investigates a number of burglaries and is pulled onto another case after a tragic event. I thought that this is a very well written story which flowed so easily, it had an all too believable and realistic plot line and I loved the different scene and country settings. I also liked that the story was told through some of the characters, most I liked, one I loathed. If I have one gripe it is that I would have liked to see DCI Gillard have a bigger part and presence in the story, although there was certainly plenty going on in the background to hold my interest and keep me entertained. Once or twice I felt the first half of the book was slow to progress, and at times was a little bit overly long, although the second half really picked up and became a very fast paced and thrilling read with lots of action and raced to a good ending. If you like good, solid police procedurals I’d recommend this book, although you really need to read the series in order to get to know the main character from the start.

Another excellent outing for Craig Gillard. A real rollercoaster of a story, excellent plot and character. Couldn’t put it down and a suspenseful ride to an excellent conclusion. Eagerly awaiting the next one