2011 Hull Yorkshire. Decland Parfitt aged 49 years is jailed for fourteen years. The childrens entertainer is a convicted paedophile. He has abducted children. One of them eleven year old Carmel Barry her body has never been found.
He was a registered foster carer and had a mobile petting zoo with birds, spiders and reptiles. His nickname is the Lizard King. He had two foster daughters. One committed suicide because of the abuse, but the other praised him as kind and loving!
It was detective chief superintendent Patricia ( Trish ) Pharaoh who brought Parfitt to justice. Detective inspector Aector McAvoy is heading up a Cold Case department trying to prove Parfitt is responsible for more abductions and murders. Time is not on their side because Parfitt could be released from prison shortly.
Trish meets with Ruby the surviving foster daughter, but she is adamant she wants Parfitt released and he can stay with her and her husband Mem and their young son.
Detective sergeant Ben Neilson works with Aector on the Cold Cases but he's been seconded by detective chief inspector Jeremy Wolsingham. They have found a dead body wrapped in a plastic bag. There is a case of mistaken identity when Mem - Ruby's husband and three other men mistake Aector for a villain and attack him. Ben identifies the dead man as a John Dennic who until recently shared a cell with Parfitt. What was he doing in Hull? Can Trish prevent Parfitt's release and make sure no more girls go missing?
This is the thirteenth McAvoy/Pharoe book and up to the author's usual high standard. Recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for the electronic advance copy of the newest book in the DS McAvoy series. I have read and enjoyed any books in this brilliant crime series and a couple of his stand-alones. I found this one to be more complex and multi-layered than the previous ones, and it should be read with attention, as not everything is what it seems. The characters are always intriguing, but some may be misleading. I always enjoyed the working relationship between Aector McAvoy and Trish Pharaoh but felt that McAvoy was absent too much. I recommend reading some of the previous books to become better acquainted with the recurring characters.

This was the story of a pedophile and vigilante justice. There were graphic, dark, disturbing passages containing torture and deaths. Thankfully, the child abuse was mentioned but never described or made explicit. There were groups formed to alter the predator's behaviour with heavy doses of legal and illegal drugs.

Trish had arrested Decland Parfitt, a serial child abuser, years before. He was one of the most dangerous offenders. What did she do when she discovered him being tortured? Now, after fourteen years, he may be released from prison. Trish and McAvoy know he will continue to prey on young children and are determined to keep him locked up. Parfitt's foster daughter, Ruby, denies that he is guilty, although her older sister committed suicide due to his abuse. Ruby hopes Decland will live happily in the home she shares with her thug boyfriend and his small son after his release. There is the additional search for an extremely violent unknown offender handing out vigilante justice. How is a body found on a deserted road connected with the investigation?

Past Redemption will be released on December 03.

Another excellent read from the author in the DS Mc Avoy series, one of the best in the crime genre. I do love the relationship between Mc Avoy and Pharao, what an amazing bond they have within the team. The plotting is dark, with many layers and the descriptions are quite vivid but this is definitely a book worth the read. The whole series is brilliant, filled with interesting characters and one which I highly recommend. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Yet again David Mark delivers a grim heartbreaking yet gripping novel , this time about the cruelty of men and child abuse. Not for the fainthearted . With Pharoah living alone and McAvoy devoted as as always to Roisin the story continues. Following Dantes circles of hell this is a dark novel to read but also has humour. I personally cannot get enough of McAvoy and Pharoah and am always disappointed when I've finished and have to wait. If you haven't tried this series I highly recommend you do.

Latest in Mark's very successful Aector MacAvoy series set in Scotland and after a bit of a slow start, this one revved up and really delivered. A multi layered early plot all came together as the book progressed just like it always does for this fine author. A paedophile jailed by MacAvoy's boss, Trish Pharaoh, years ago is set to be released but Pharoah will do anything in her power to prevent that. She enlists Aector to assist but he soon realizes that not everything is as it seems......even what his boss and friend, Pharoah, it telling him. Take you time with every page and every detail and you will be rewarded. Thanks to the author, publisher and Net Galley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoy David Marks books and this one was no exception. I found it a thrilling fast paced book.

Thanks for the opportunity to review the book

Thank you NetGalley and Severn House for the eARC.
Another dark and thrilling book featuring Aector McAvoy and Trish Pharao. This time they're trying to keep a paedophile in prison. The description of his crimes are quite graphic and may be upsetting to some. However, as dark as the book is, David Mark is a marvellous writer and the relationship between Aector and Trish is well depicted and makes me come back to this series again and again.

Couldn't get into this story. Characters are quite interesting but way too much self reflection. Dragged on far too long

Another tremendous installment in the hull based crime series.

The story harks back to previous books so it's best to start the series from the beginning otherwise the stage isn't set correctly.

Trish pharaoh features heavily in this book and she's such a well drawn character, the perfect wild foil to Aectors straightlaced gentleness

A highly recommended 5 star read

Aector McAvoy and Trish Pharoah in another dark twisting tale of gruesome deeds. A body in a bag on a remote road gets things started and echoes of a previous case investigation with Aector looking into the cold case which suddenly becomes current. Full of violent detail this is another brilliant yarn that never lets you go right up to its intriguing epilogue.

Aector McAvoy, one of the best crime fiction creations in recent history is back again in another dark, gritty and thoroughly twisted thriller from the outrageously gifted David Mark.

As ever the subject’s matter it’s as dark as can be as the past is dragged up for Trish Pharoah and Aector. Trish is her usual brash but brilliant self and she gels so well with gentle giant that is Aector.

Moody, hard hitting crime thrills from a author who is genuinely superb, David Mark has been around a while and written many books, this is certainly one at the top end,

If the publisher can get the price point correct, David Mark could sell very well.

This is a reliably good series. It is dark and gritty with the subject material not to everyone’s liking but Aector and Pharoah are teamed up to keep a pedophile from getting out of jail. Pharoah has a personal stake in keeping Declan Parfitt in prison.

There are gruesome scenes of torture that are a bit difficult to read with a vigilante feeling. And then there is his foster daughter. Is Ruby what she seems? The book is fast paced.

I also enjoy seeing Awctor and Roisin and how their family has grown and changed. This is a series I will continue to read and look forward to the next installment. Thank you to David Mark, the publisher, and Netgalley for an ARC to review.

I loved David mark’s earlier novels but felt he went a little off course in his more recent books. Thankfully this was a welcome return to form and a rollercoaster of a read!

There were lots of complex characters and interlinking stories. A few decent red herrings and enough twists and turns to keep the pages turning, with the usual engaging and vivid writing style.

Things did get a little convoluted towards the end, and there was a random chapter where the sudden introduction and laboured use of ‘they/them’ pronouns for a very minor character seemed incongruous and added nothing to the story - but overall it was an enjoyable read, despite the grim subject matter!

Knocked off one star as the last couple of chapters felt a little rushed and the building tension seemed to peter out a bit- slightly anti-climatic end, but I’d give it a solid 8/10.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC

I really enjoyed this book. A great twisty crime book. Couldn't put it down.
Thankyyou netgalley for the chance to read this