Title: West Country Murder by Derek Thompson
Publisher: Joffe Books
Date Published: 26th January 2022
Genre: Mystery
Description:
BRAND NEW FROM BESTSELLING AUTHOR DEREK THOMPSON.
A dead body. Drugs residue. No fingerprints. Foul play?
At first PC Marnie Olsen thinks the man in the car is asleep. But the lack of movement and strange tilt of the head are a dead giveaway.
The only clue is a book signed by local author Juliette Kimani, who is holding court at the Wiltshire literary festival.
This could be a real breakthrough. If only Juliette Kimani wasn't flatly denying ever having met the man . . .
Detective Craig Wild discovers that the victim was using a fake name. He must have been involved in something dark.
If Wild can find the man's real identity he might just crack this case. But first he must deal with some very dangerous people. They'll do whatever it takes to keep the truth buried. How far will Wild go to make sure the truth comes out . . . ?
Detective Craig Wild will be pushed to his limits in this gripping crime mystery packed with twists and turns.
Perfect for fans of Rachel Abbott, Helen. H. Durrant, Robert Bryndza, L.J. Ross, Angela Marsons, Peter May or Alex Gray.
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT DEREK THOMPSON
"Complex and full of twists and turns, this is a very good thriller which keeps the reader on tenterhooks throughout." Ann Stanmore
"Good read for anyone who enjoys a thriller that will keep them hooked from start to finish." Jfaulknercourt
"If you read one book this year, choose this brilliant thriller that will keep you guessing to the end." Chris Child
ALSO BY DEREK THOMPSON
Detective Craig Wild Mysteries
Book 1: LONG SHADOWS
Book 2: WEST COUNTRY MURDER
Thomas Bladen Series
Book 1: STANDPOINT
Book 2: LINE OF SIGHT
Book 3: CAUSE & EFFECT
Book 4: SHADOW STATE
Book 5: FLASHPOINT
Review:
I want to thank Jill Burkinshaw for inviting me on this blog tour and Joffe Books for providing me with a copy of West country murder in exchange for an honest review.
I read and enjoyed the first in the Craig Wild series, Long Shadows, so I jumped at the chance to read West Country Murder. It can be read as a standalone, but I'd recommend reading Long Shadows first just to get to know the characters better.
A body is found in a locked car and the only clue is a book leading to local author Juliette Kimani. Wild thinks she's hiding something but can't prove it. More and more comes to light about the murder victim and leads Wild on a more dangerous path than he thought.
I'll be honest, I thought West Country Murder was going to be a straightforward mystery, but as I read on, I got caught up in twisty whodunnit.
I still enjoyed the pairing of Wild and PC Marnie Olson, much like the first book. They compliment each other nicely, Wild with his gruff demeanour and Marnie, who's whip smart but also has the empathy that Wild sometimes lacks.
I also thought there was a subtle bit of humour through the book, with a sarcastic observation or comment here and there, which I liked.
I will say while this is a police procedural, it's a little more on the gentle side. In fact it almost felt like a cozy mystery, so sometimes the pace felt a little slow.
West Country Murder is well written police procedural with an intriguing plot and plenty of shocks and surprises along the way.
About The Author:
Derek Thompson grew up in London and started writing fiction in his teens. After spending a year in the US, he returned to London and subsequently moved to the West Country. He wrote a commissioned piece for The Guardian in 2008 and entered the world of freelance writing in 2009. His short fiction has featured in both British and American anthologies, and can be found online. He has also written comedy material for live performance and radio.
His love of film noir and thrillers began with The Big Sleep, and has never left him. Much of his fiction involves death, data or secrets. As the saying goes: write about what you know. He writes about Thomas Bladen and his role in the Surveillance Support Unit.
His books have been described as snarky (yes, it's a real word), pared down, and morally ambiguous. What more could any novelist ask for? Apart from pens – you can never have too many pens.
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