BOOKS BY STEWART GILES – Blog 2 of 4 #crimefiction #policeprocedural #detective

Today on my Books by Stewart Giles Blog we look at books 3,4 & 5 in the DS Smith series:   Ladybird, Occam’s Razor and Harlequin.

Ladybird (DS Jason Smith #3) by Stewart Giles

 Available from AMAZON UK   US   AU   CA

From #1 best-selling author: Stewart Giles comes a new addition to the popular Detective Jason Smith series.

The Goul is arrested for Murder and Jason Smith is on sick leave.

Detective Sergeant Jason Smith is days away from the end of his sick leave after a case that almost cost him his life when he gets a call from an old friend. His friend has been arrested for the murder of a student. He wants Smith to investigate the murder and prove his innocence. Smith is persuaded return to work. The student was killed with a bread knife. Ladybirds were scattered on his dead body.

When another man is found dead with ladybirds on his body, Smith enlists the help of an insect doctor, the enigmatic DR Karen Wood, to try and understand the significance of the ladybirds. As Smith gets drawn closer to this mysterious woman and more and more men wind up dead with ladybirds on their bodies Smith quickly realises that Dr Wood is not who she seems to be.

Smith and his team unearth a terrible secret from twenty years earlier; somebody wants justice and, as more and more men die, Smith realises he is running out of time to find out who.

This is a fast-paced page-turner with twists and turns all the way to an ending you won’t see coming.

My Review – Ladybird is book 2 in the DS Smith series but they do work brilliantly as stand alone.

The story starts with The Goul, a pathologist, being accused of murder.  He begs Smith for help at a time when Jason is struggling through his grief at the death of his girlfriend, guilt and many other issues.  Will he put aside the bottle to help his old friend or walk away from everything?

I think everyone who has read the previous books will know the answer to that one.  Before Smith has chance to prove The Goul innocent another body is found.  Who is killing young men?

Now I have read books that are full of twists, turns and shockers. Lots of them.  But I can hold my hand up and say that I have never read anything like this one.  The unsub is a totally unique character and definitely throws into the abyss everything I thought I knew about serial killers.  There is plenty of evidence but nothing to match it to.  The ladybirds is an awesome idea and how Stewart thought that one up I really don’t know.

As the bodies stack up the team are running out of ideas and the red herrings and twists and turns are enough to make you dizzy.

The only possibility for the murderer doesn’t quite fit and that adds to the intrigue and suspense.

A totally gripping page-turner with complex characters that build well in depth throughout the story.  A brilliant read and well worth 5 stars.

Occam’s Razor (DS Jason Smith #4) by Stewart Giles

Available from Amazon UK   US   AU   CA

From #1 best-selling author: Stewart Giles comes a new addition to the popular Detective Jason Smith series.

A football player is shot dead in front of a packed crowd of people.

DS Jason Smith is put in charge of the investigation. The murder weapon is found in a house across the road from the football ground. It is a rare Russian army issue sniper rifle. As the investigation hits dead end after dead end, two government agents arrive and take over, pushing Smith and his colleagues to the side. As more people die Smith quickly realises these agents are not who they claim to be. He is forced into the dark world of these phantoms and he finds himself at the mercy of his old nemesis; the man who kidnapped his sister years earlier.
This is a gripping thriller with twists and turns all the way to the stunning ending.

My Review – Well the awesome Stewart Giles has done it again! Another absolutely gripping page turner to add to the very addictive DS Smith series. This review is for the newly updated digital version.

A footballer is killed after saving a penalty. 38000 witnesses and no motive! The team is struggling until Smith returns to work.

This is a very twisty turny read as Smith deals with yet another tragedy in his life and his past comes back to haunt him.

Be careful who you trust is the message behind this story and all the way through I kept changing my mind and bouncing around suspects and thoughts only to find out how wrong I was. People are messing with Smith’s head and his life is in danger. It is a roller coaster ride through the dark twisted minds of some evil people and they are happy to use whoever they can to achieve their goal.

It is difficult to review this book without spoilers so all I can really say is clear some time buy the book and settle down for an awesome page-turner that you will never forget.

I am loving this series the books get better and better If you like a good detective read with a unique story line and even more unique, complex characters then this is definitely for you.

5 golden stars from me.

Harlequin (DS Jason Smith #5) by Stewart Giles

Available from Amazon UK   US   AU   CA

From #1 best-selling author: Stewart Giles comes a new addition to the popular Detective Jason Smith series.

The circus comes to town and children start to disappear.

Detective Sergeant Jason Smith is persuaded to return to work after three weeks of a marijuana induced haze. Forced to endure the leadership of a new DI, the fulsome Bryony Brownhill, Smith is faced with the most difficult investigation of his colourful career.
When the children who vanished are found murdered in various parts of the city, all clues lead to the circus grounds, but Smith and his team are met with a sinister silence everywhere they turn. Smith digs deeper and discovers the cause of this silence; the chain of events that led up to the vile murders that have shattered the hearts of the people of York.
This is an edge-of-your-seat thriller with an ending that you won’t expect.

My Review – This is book 5 in the DS Smith series and this review is for the reedited and updated digital version.

It is no secret that I am a big fan of Stewart Giles. His books tick a lot of boxes for me especially this Smith series. I suspect Smith could be an acquired taste and you have to read all the books in sequence to understand what he has been through and why he is taking so long to grow up. He is getting there.

As life has dealt him blow after blow he has picked himself back up with the aid of drink, cigarettes and now Marijuana. BUT he has also lost everybody who he cared about including his house. He is trying to put the house back together and his head when Whitton begs him to return to work as a 5 year old child has disappeared from his home.

We have a new DI in charge of the team and she isnt going to stand for Smith’s way of doing things in the same way Bob Chalmers did. But she has never come across anyone like Smith before either.

As more children go missing all clues point to the circus and the troupe have secrets of their own.

This is a very unique story. One that begs the question: Is evil genetic? The team encounter many problems along the course of the investigation and are left reeling when they join up the dots and realise who the killer is. But he hasn’t done yet. Can they catch him before it is too late?

This is a fast paced story that really gets the adrenaline flowing and the pages turning. Twists and turns with more shocks than a ghost train this is a riveting read that I couldn’t put down.

Definitely 5 stars from me

THE SETTING
York is a historic walled city in North Yorkshire, England.

At the confluence of the River Ouse and Foss, York is the traditional county town of the historic county of Yorkshire. York Minster and a variety of cultural and sporting activities make it a popular tourist destination.

THE DETECTIVES
DS Jason Smith is an Australian who was sent to York to live with his Grandmother when his sister disappeared from a beach. He has suffered many losses in his short life and is now a dedicated detective. He is a bit of a loose cannon he has his own way of doing things and that doesn’t always mean following orders and procedures.
DS Thompson is of the same rank as Jason, but he doesn’t have the same support or success. He and Jason have a love/hate relationship which brings a bit of humour to the series. Thompson is old school and thinks his age should give him respect and privileges, but life doesn’t work that way for him.
DC Erica Witton is Jason’s preferred partner they work well together and share a bond. She isn’t always appreciated by Jason, but they care about each other and that brings a different dimension to the series.


BOOKS BY STEWART GILES

DS JASON SMITH SERIES
Book 0.5 – Phobia
Book 1 – Smith
Book 2 – Boomerang
Book 3 – Ladybird
Book 4 – Occam’s Razor
Book 5 – Harlequin
Book 6 – Selene
Book 7 – Horsemen
Book 8 – Unworthy

DC HARRIET TAYLOR SERIES
Book 1 – The Beekeeper
Book 2 – The Perfect Murder
Book 3 – The Backpacker

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