Member Reviews
An excellent outing for DI Denning, his DS Molly Fisher and their Metropolitan Police team. A young father, with no known enemies is killed, stabbed moments after opening his front door. The young man led a blameless life, who would want him dead? The team are struggling with the lack of motive when the killer strikes again in the same manner., This time the victim is a well respected teacher. What connects them, and how can the team prevent more deaths.
Very well written. The team works well together and there was just the right amount of team backstory so as not to bog the book down. I’ll definitely look forward to more of Mr Hampton’s work.
A Random Killer…?
The fifth in the DI Denning and DS Fisher series finds the team with a killer on their hands. Two deaths, not too far apart, and with no apparent leads nor motive are certainly concerning. Is a random killer stalking the streets or are the deaths connected in some way? They may well find that this particular killer has nothing to lose. With a well drawn cast of characters, threads aplenty and a swiftly moving narrative this is a gripping procedural and a worthy addition to the series to date.
I had high hopes that this could be me discovering another amazing crime series that I could indule in and thankfully, I wasn't mistaken. I really enjoyed the writing style and the fast pace if the book that is kept up throughout. When books are described as "British thrillers", I always get the image on the old fashioned hard helmets n some very sten, humourless police officers but thankfully this want the case. The characters are pretty decent a but stereotypical but then again you can only do so much to make them original without it seeming absurd so it's not a big deal. It was a complex thriller which isn't just solely police procedural so I liked that aspect and that there's just so many twists and turns that you have no clue who's behind it all until that big reveal. I can't wait to get stuck into the precious books and get to know the characters better
I want to thank NetGalley, the publishers, and the author for allowing me to read and review this book.
DI Denning and DS Fisher are called to a house where a young man was stabbed after answering his front door, seemingly for no reason. This starts the investigation by the police, with few clues and no leads. When others are murdered in the same way, it finally gives the police enough to focus the search for the killer.
This was another fine British police procedural, where the team must follow all possibilities to solve the case. Only tedious, hard work will lead them to a successful conclusion. As usual, each member of the team must also deal with their own issues, providing little side-stories to the main plot.
Denning and Fisher have a really tricky case - a young father dead from a single stab wound on his doorstep. Who'd want to kill him? Or is it a case of mistaken identity?
They discover that the former tenant of the upstairs flat could have been the real target.....
But this won't be the only death.....
Brilliant
301 pages
4 stars
DI Matthew Denning and DS Molly Fisher have a real puzzler on their hands in this, the latest entry into the series.
A married man in his twenties is stabbed to death on his doorstep. He has a very young child as well. There seems to be no one in the world who wished him harm. Recently the upstairs neighbor moved out and he is a bad person. He has an impressive conviction record. Denning prefers to believe it was a case of mistaken identity and that this other man was the true target.
Molly is not so sure.
Before long a woman is attacked in the same manner. She, too, had no apparent enemies. Denning’s theory goes out the window.
More deaths occur. The case is frustrating for the team. When a vital connection to the past is finally made, they now find a plethora of suspects.
The pace of the story picks up and the tension increases. The reader knows the story is hurtling toward a conclusion.
I came to that same conclusion as Molly just shortly before it was revealed in the book. The motive for the killings was a little unusual, but of course it doesn’t excuse the heinous acts.
The book is well written and plotted, if a little slow in places. The team gets along well and there is always Kinsella to provide curmudgeonly comments. I like the way we got some backstory on Molly’s dilemma and that Denning overstepped his responsibilities, at least according to his DCI. I will continue to read Mr. Hampton’s novels.
I want to thank NetGalley and Hera Books for forwarding to me a copy of this good book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.
Interesting and well written book. A good story with several layers, both in the police work and personally. I did find the police officers a bit stereotypical - but that's the name of the game.
Enjoyed it.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher I read a free advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.
In Shame the Devil by Graeme Hampton is about a young father who is stabbed to death on his front doorstep in East London. D.I. Matthew Denning and D.S. Molly Fisher are quickly thrown into an investigation with no leads to follow … and when another body is discovered, mirroring that of the young father, the case gets even more complex.
This is the fifth book in the series. I did not feel I had missed anything by not reading all the books before this one. I really liked the characters and getting to know the team. Dave Kinsella seems to be a fun character.
There were lots of twists and red herrings to keep me guessing and turning the pages. A well-written book and one I would recommend.
A 4 out of 5 stars. I will read more from this author.
#ShametheDevil #NetGalley @HeraBooks
One of the best books I have read recently. Sometimes it can take a few pages to get into a book, but I knew from early on that this would be an enjoyable read.
Good story line that keeps you guessing up to the end.
I hadn’t read any of Graeme’s books previously, but will certainly look them out now.
"This was one part of the job she hated: forcing people to revisit dark places..." I do love a good police procedural (such joy in finding a new series!), and #ShametheDevil is a very good one. Even though it's #5 in the D.I. Denning and D.S. Fisher series, Mr. Hampton (@Gham001 @graeme_hampton) gives us just enough background w/o being repetitive, to bring us up to speed. He shows how police start with almost nothing, under intense pressure from their bosses and bosses' bosses, to solve their case before it becomes a media frenzy, before there are more victims. Lots of red herrings, false starts and trails that lead nowhere. Well done, highly recommend. I look forward to delving into #1-4.
P.S. Thanks to #netgalley for the ARC.
Home is supposed to be a haven, somewhere to relax, feel safe, and loved. Of course, it isn't that way for everyone but Kieran Judd was lucky, home was his happy place, or it was until he opened the door one evening and was dead within seconds.
For DI Matt Denning and DS Molly Fisher the crime is a brutal introduction to a confusing case with few clues, and fewer reasons why Kieran had been targeted. The investigation is slow moving and frustrating and, with both of them experiencing difficulties outside of work, a second victim is the last thing they expected or needed.
In book five of this series both Matt and Molly are facing problems which affect their work and home life more than they'd like to admit. The rest of their team are present once again but, as usual, it's Dave Kinsella who has most to say about of the direction of the investigation which is always one of my favourite bits.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. Once again the author has written a good addition to a very enjoyable series.
Book 5 of D. I. Denning And D. S. Fisher
A young father is stabbed to death on his front doorstep in East London. Kieran Judd was a well-liked sports coach and family man, so why would he be targeted for such a brutal death?
D.I. Matthew Denning and D.S. Molly Fisher are quickly thrown into an investigation with no leads to follow and when the body of respectable schoolteacher Susan Elliot is discovered, her murder mirroring that of Kieran’s, the case gets even more complex.
Faced with two murders with no obvious motive, East London Met worry that a random serial killer stalks their streets. But as Denning and Fisher uncover a dark secret linking the two victims, they are sent spiralling into an investigation in which exposing the truth will bring them directly into the sights of a killer with nothing to lose.
Really enjoyed this book totally recommend
Thank You NetGalley and Hera Books
I just reviewed Shame the Devil by Graeme Hampton. #ShametheDevil #NetGalley
Good book! This book had suspense, intrigue, action, murder, and great police work! The storyline was very interesting and had me glued to my Kindle! I will definitely recommend reading this book as it was well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!