I found Don’t Say a Word to be an intriguing but somewhat frustrating read. Salome Delaney’s character is relatable, struggling with her personal and professional life, but the writing style didn’t quite work for me. The narrative felt a bit disjointed at times, and it took me a while to really get into the flow of things. The pacing was uneven, and at points, the transitions between scenes felt jarring, especially with the heavy themes surrounding Sal's mentor and the dark case she’s drawn into.

The tension with Detective Magda Quinn added a layer of drama, but it almost felt a bit too forced, which detracted from the overall mystery. I've visited Cumbria, and the North of England setting was a nice touch, but I felt it could have been used more effectively to add atmosphere. Still, the plot kept me going, and the darker twists definitely held my attention towards the end.

I received this book free from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Written by David Mark and published by Severn House in 2025, this is an eerie fantasy/detective novel set in the North of the U.K in the modern day. Perhaps it is meant to be a murder mystery. As I have gotten older, I have found it difficult to keep up with stories that contain a lot of characters. This is one of them.

In addition, the novel is written in a very unusual style. All of the body-text in the story is taken from the present-tense, first-person perspective of each of the characters. The primary protagonist is named Salome or Sal, and she apparently is a working detective at a police department in Northumberland, U.K. Sal’s last name is Delaney. Her husband has been in a coma for a number of years. There might be some indication that Sal is responsible for the wound that led to her husband’s coma. She has a superior in the police department named Magda who hates her. Magda is the former mistress of Sal’s husband. The tension between them adds to the tension in the story.

Central to the story is a medieval torture/murder device known as the oubliette. It was invented in France but was widely used by King William the Conqueror in England and Scotland. At least one of these devices has survived the past and has been found and used in the ruins of one of King William’s old castles. (In the present day.)

Other characters in the story include Theo, a young man who was falsely accused of murder and served time in prison for a murder he did not commit. His court-appointed counsel gave him bad advice, telling him to answer, “No comment!” to all questions put to him by police and the courts. That lawyer becomes one of the victims of the oubliette later in the story, after Theo has been released from prison and works to become an actor. He makes a costume based on the favorite executioner of King Willian: A man known as The Bloodworm. His costume includes a leather mask like the one that was the signature of the original Bloodworm.

Then there is Wulf Hagman (I think that is right.) He actually served a deserved long prison sentence for murdering a man a number of years earlier. He is friends with Sal, her children and with Theo. He often looks after Sal’s children. Magda thinks he is the current murderer.

There are a number of other characters that flesh out the story, but this review would be way too long if I mentioned all of them.

I have no doubt that the author is a talented writer. However, I do not like this style of writing and imagine that you might not like it, either. It certainly is not common. Reading it was a lot of work for me, and so was not very enjoyable. The style of writing confused me a great deal when I read the book. I almost quit reading after the first few pages, and I am not too certain of just exactly what all I read. I will not recommend this novel, but if you want to try something new, give it a look. I award only two of the available five stars, and do not plan to read any more of this author’s works.

This is my first book by David Mark. I am sorry to say that I just could not get into the book. Described as being dark & fantastical, it certainly is and is just not me.

Don't Say a Word offers an intriguing premise set against the backdrop of Cumbria, but it falls short in some areas for me. Salome Delaney is a compelling character, particularly in her struggle to balance her personal life with the demands of her job as a Collision Investigation Officer. The challenges she faces add a layer of complexity. However, these elements sometimes feel overshadowed by the main plot. The mystery surrounding the case involving medieval torture chambers is fascinating, yet it often veers into complicated territory. Sometimes, the pacing can drag, which left me wanting more urgency in the storyline. Additionally, the conflict with Detective Chief Inspector Magda Quinn, which seems pivotal, sometimes feels one-dimensional and lacks depth.

Overall, Don't Say a Word is engaging at times. The combination of personal struggles and a dark mystery is a promising mix, but the execution could have been tighter. It might be a compelling read for fans of crime fiction, but it may not leave a lasting impression.

#DontSayaWord #NetGalley @severnhouse

Hard to follow and somewhat rambling tale of violence and accusation. Everything ties in eventually, but a slog to get there.

4+

Sal Delaney #2

Between Hexham and Haydon Bridge, a 4x4 is wedged between a farm gate and a large oak tree. The driver is Sycamore Le Gros (yes, really) a wealthy landowner and he says he swerved to avoid a “zombie”. Sal, a Collision Investigation Officer is at the scene and feels a migraine coming on and exhaustion setting in as she listens to Sycamore‘s story. Then she hears something she can’t make sense of it. She heads towards the sound and is stunned with shock at the sight before her eyes and that’s just the start of the horror to come.

Talk about a powerful start. The fantastical, vivid writing makes me feel part of the scene and glues me to the narrative. David Mark has a unique way of writing, despite the horrifying nature of what his mind has conjured up, his writing is beautiful, it’s almost poetic and lyrical which is such a contrast to what you’re reading.

The author has created some brilliant characters with an originality to them. Sal is such a great character. She has so much going on in her personal life which she has to navigate alongside a difficult job and there are things lingering from her past that make her feel overwhelmed. In addition, she has to cope with the hatred of her superior officer in Magda Quinn, who as foul characters go, is in a league of our own. Some scenes between them are so good with tension and the animosity between them crackling off the pages. There are plenty of other really good characters too who have terrific back stories that I suspect will remain a theme throughout the next book and possibly those after that.

This is a complex case with apparently disparate threads that start connecting in one of those ‘Ah,I see’ revelations. It’s tense, suspenseful, eerie, gruesome, chilling to the bone, pitch black dark and in places it’s very scary. There are occasions where the hate, the fear and the sense of being overwhelmed positively jumps off the pages. It builds to an intense crescendo in a breathtaking conclusion and a cliffhanger ending. Clearly, to be continued.

Overall, a cracking read, albeit a dark one.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Severn House for the much appreciated EPUB in return for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Severn House for the eARC.
This was the 2nd in the Sal Delaney series which I was really looking forward to reading.
Sal is in a bad place, still reeling from the events of the recent past and desperately missing her twin brother.
She has to attend the horrifying scene of a man so severely wounded he's barely clinging onto life, which plunges her into a mental spiral. Her ex is in hospital unable to function and she's looking after his 2 young
girls. Plus, her boss is determined to end her!
It's a bit of a tough read, very visceral and I had to skip certain passages that creeped me out. But as usual it's a beautifully written book with a terrific ending. Can't wait for no.3!

Traffic cop Sal Delaney has to solve another twisted and dark case in this pulse pounding and gritty police procedural set in the north of England, with a complex, intriguing female protagonist! Good book! This book had great suspense, murder, mystery, action, intrigue, and a few crazy twists and turns! The story was very interesting! I definitely recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!