If you enjoy a good police procedural you need to read this series, each book can be read as a standalone but I predict that as soon as you finish one you'll be searching for the others. Sophie is such a great boss, her team both like and respect her especially Rae which is great to see. So many books have the maverick cop who fights with his superiors. They start out here trying to solve one case which leads them to another crime altogether. There is a great feeling of pathos in this book but not so much that it becomes sentimental. I look forward to the next book in the series.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book

Another great book from this author. It was so addictive and twisty. I loved all the dead ends which kept me guessing all the way through. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

The body is found slumped on a mudbank in Watchet harbour, washed up with the incoming tide. A middle-aged man. The post-mortem reveals he was viciously beaten before ending up in the sea. And strangely his lungs are filled with fresh water.

That’s when Detective Sophie Allen of the Wessex Serious Crimes Unit is called in. She and her team end up with the tricky cases, the ones no one else can handle.

A few days later, a second body is discovered in woodland high up on Exmoor.

Then a new lead takes the case in an unexpected direction — and a very personal one for Sophie. It takes her back to a family tragedy fifteen years before, and memories she’d prefer to leave buried forever.

Loved it.

Another great book in the Sophie Allen series. I have read all of them and they just keep on getting better. The characters have developed and it is easy to slip into another instalment. Great book

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I have not read anything from this author before and I will certainly be making a point to change that. Fast paced thriller which had me hooked all the way through.

Although 12th in the series the author has kept the stories fresh and the characters engaging. As a senior officer now, Sophie is supposed to be taking somewhat of a back stage post in current cases, leaving the hard work to her juniors. She does to some extent but is still on the learning curve. This allows the story to focus on Rae and Polly as well as local officers and special constables. There is a dead body in the harbour, closely followed by a dead body in his very out-of-the-way house and a third dead body in a ditch. Tie this with a local scally nicking copper cables, a seriously dysfunctional family, a young woman with Downes' Syndrome, exploited farm workers with learning issues and the local 'lady of the manor' and you have a complex set of sub-plots that do not want to tie together. The police are an interesting set of characters, not stereotyped for once, but engaging with their diversity and the issues that some of them have had because of these. They are all 'nice' people - no back stabbing mavericks here. hooray. Solid police procedural with engaging characters. Thanks to NetGalley and the publsiher for an advance copy.

This is #12 in the Detective Sophie Allen series but can be read as a standalone.

I love the Sophie Allen series so I was eager to read this one, and it didn’t disappoint.

Chief Superintendent Sophie and her Wessex Serious Crimes Unit team are called in when a body is found in Watchet, Somerset. It’s a man who has been washed onto the mudflats with the tide, but it appears that he was subjected to a nasty assault before he went into the water. A new character, Special Constable Jackie Spring, is involved with this case, having been first on the scene when the body was discovered.

While they’re investigating this incident, another body is found, this time in nearby woods. Are the two murders linked?

I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley and Joffee books for this eARC.

A well written solid mystery and police procedural involving numerous interesting characters, including a young woman with Downes syndrome (who has over protective almost stifling parents) and an interesting fellow who has basically decided to "check out" from society. Add a thief who may or may not have hit someone with his vehicle while stealing $3,000 worth of copper, and an entertaining crew of characters on the police force as well as a potential murder.

Engaging police procedural of sorts...

Vicious crimes by Michael Hambling.
Detective Sophie Allen book 12.
The body is found slumped on a mudbank in Watchet harbour, washed up with the incoming tide. A middle-aged man. The post-mortem reveals he was viciously beaten before ending up in the sea. But strangely his lungs are filled with fresh water.
A really good read. I did like Jackie Sophie Rae and Barry. I'm looking forward to the next book. 4*.

I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the previous ones in the series, probably because the main police characters aren’t in it as much. I do like the new additions though, and Rae is fantastic. I very much enjoyed the setting for this book, which was well described. The plotting is superb, pulling together all those links in the story together at the end. A very good police procedural.

Another thrilling book in this series. I enjoy this series so much. A great murder mystery with great characters

Exmoor, thriller, law-enforcement, procedural, due-diligence, cooperation, friendship, unputdownable, multiple-murder, murder-investigation, small-town, rural, theft, suspense, coastal, teamwork, series, artist*****

The first body had been in the water for a time, had no form of ID, turned out to be that of a loner/artist. Time to call in more experienced law enforcement.
Chief Superintendent Sophie Allen of the Wessex Serious Crime Unit (Wescu) has a law degree and a master's in psychology but is dedicated to police work. She is less prominent and more the organizer in this investigation with local librarian/ Special Constable (Volunteer) Jackie Spring as the unobtrusive one who reports to DS Rae Gregson for the probe into the situations.
This one is more plot driven than the others I've read in series. It's always a pleasure to read a good procedural!
I requested and received an EARC from Joffe Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of Vicious Crimes, the twelfth novel to feature Chief Superintendent Sophie Allen of the Wessex Serious Crime Unit (Wescu).

Sophie and the team are in Somerset after the body of an unidentified man is pulled from the harbour in Watchet and it becomes clear that his death is suspicious. A few days later a second body is found in nearby woods and a perhaps unrelated clue brings back some memories for Sophie.

I thoroughly enjoyed Vicious Crimes, which has a bit of everything including more crimes, family secrets, tragedy, tension and some heart stopping moments. Sophie takes a more background role for most of the novel until she is the show stopping finale. Most of the narrative centres on DS Rae Gregson and the work she puts in.

The novel starts with two deaths, but it swiftly moves beyond that with a historical crime playing its part and further modern crimes to be discovered. There is a lot going on and the team settle on a group of suspects, but who did what? The crimes are all about the web of relationships between these people and the team are all about finding the evidence to convict them. It’s not that difficult to follow as the team follow a logical path, albeit a cunning one at times, but it’s a lot to pull together and can be overwhelming for the team. I found it an immersive and compulsive read.

The novel is all about the plot so the characters don’t have much depth. The team, a new initiative, has members from both the Dorset and Somerset forces, so they are still feeling their way to a close knit bond.

Vicious Crimes is a good read that I can recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for my copy of Vicious Crimes by Michael Hamblng
This is the 12th book in the Detective Sophie Allen Series but it works fine as a standalone with just enough background given.
When a man is found wedged in the mud of Watchet harbour it is the quick thinking of Special Constable Jackie Spring that secures the body before it can be dragged out to sea. But who is he, there’s no one been reported missing, he’s been badly beaten before entering the water and his lungs are full of water. The team start to sift the evidence and build up a timeline, then another body turns up.
Fast moving and interesting.

Two farms and one estate linked by theft and murder.

Donald Lomax copper theft draws him out on a night of torrential rains. The downpour washes a body into the Bristol Channel thereby causing Jackie Springer to investigate.
The mysterious murder draws investigators from WeSCu to investigate. Jackie is asked to join the team due her involvement in the community as a part-time librarian and volunteer police officer. Her inquires leads to two farms and estate being connected to a murder.

Michael Hamblings' twelfth installment o the Sophie Allen series keeps you intrigued with wanting to know how two farms and an estate are connected in a murder. The author develops strong female characters who lead the investigation. Sophie shares the investigation with Jackie as she can utilize her as being local.
The story connects the farmhouse and estate very well. I enjoy UK mysteries and enjoyed reading this book. The author adds side notes which are a bonus.
A recommended read.

Good book! This book had a bit of everything! It had suspense, Action, intrigue, mystery, murder, revenge, a great who done it, great plot twist, and some crazy twists and turns! The storyline was very interesting and kept me glued to my Kindle!! I definitely recommend reading this book as it was well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Thank you NetGalley and Joffe Books for eARC.
No. 12 in the Sophie Allen series is another good book - I really like this series.
This time the body of a man is found in the ocean and hauled in with difficulty thanks to Jackie, a civil police woman before Sophie and some of the others from her team arrive to take over the case.
I like the team a lot and really liked Jackie as well, she's a smart cookie.
There are some nefarious characters, slavery and another murder in this read, I quite enjoyed it, it's a worthy addition to the previous ones.

Vicious Crimes by Michael Hambling is Book 12 in the Detective Sophie Allen series. The book is a good police procedural with a storyline that unraveled well and held my interest.

Vicious Crimes is a brand-new British crime mystery set on the Somerset coast and packed full of twists.

Detective Sophie Allen of the Wessex Serious Crimes Unit is called in when a body is found slumped on a mudbank in Watchet harbor, washed up with the incoming tide. The post-mortem reveals he was viciously beaten before ending up in the sea. And strangely, his lungs are filled with fresh water. A few days later, a second body is discovered.

Then, a new lead takes the case in an unexpected direction. It takes Sophie back to a family tragedy fifteen years before and memories she’d prefer to leave buried forever.

Watchet sounds like such a pretty coastal town, and the book describes it as steeped in maritime history and packed with craft and gift shops. Sounds like a beautiful place to visit, except for the murders, of course!

Vicious Crimes is a solid story with good characters, an interesting plot, and a twisty ending.

#VICIOUSCRIMES #NetGalley @joffebooks