DARK ANGEL by HELEN H. DURRANT
Available from Amazon UK US AU
Love gripping crime fiction? Discover Detective Stephen Greco, a meticulous policeman with a messy personal life.
Two young men break into an expensive house in Cheshire. They take money and jewellery — and a large amount of heroin. Within twenty-four hours they are found brutally murdered.
The killings have the hallmarks of a local drug baron. The two victims were also “angels” helping in a community project which seems to have been lowering the crime rate in the area.
Meanwhile, Detective Stephen Greco’s colleague and on-off girlfriend Grace is pregnant. He isn’t sure how he feels, and they haven’t told the boss.
This gripping and fast-paced crime mystery ends with a series of shocking twists.
My Review
This is book 4 in the DCI Greco series but it works very well as a stand-alone.
A couple of lads get a tip off there are drugs to be found but they were not expecting the massive amount that they stumbled upon. They are made for life but that life is destined to be very short lived.
As Greco and his team search for clues and start putting the pieces together something is not working out in Stephen’s mind. Can his gut instinct be relied upon given the personal problems he is fighting with in his mind? All the clues point to one person but is that too easy? When the drugs team from another branch try stealing the case the team are on a mission to solve the murders before they have to hand it over.
The main characters are Greco and Grace as we learn more about their characters. There is a very human element to Helen’s books that bring the characters to life. I am waiting for the next book to see how Greco and Grace handle the fall out from their relationship.
This is a fast paced story with a very intricate plot. There are many twists and turns along the way to an ending that nobody expected. The readers is gripped from the very beginning and the pages just keep turning.
A brilliant book and I am looking forward to more from this author.
What the bloggers thought
Donna’s Book Blog
The plot was strong and very relevant to what we see in the news on a regular basis at the moment. The writing style was superb as always and I flew through the pages. I loved the twists and turns that we had on the way to reach the ending which I saw coming in part but there was a sneaky twist. Read more here
Joanna Larum’s Reviews
If you like police procedural crime stories with a twisting storyline you will love this. Prepare for your mind to be stretched and blown! Read more here
Ginger Book Geek
To say that this is an addictive, fast paced thriller has to be the understatement of the year. The story hits the ground running and maintains the pace throughout. Read more here
J. V. Baptie
Helen also does a good job of getting the reader hooked straight away, opening with a gritty prologue set five months prior to the main narrative. Read more here
By The Letter Book Reviews
The case they find themselves working on is a very brutal crime of which they need to solve quickly. When it comes to drugs being involved, you know right away that the dark underworld that these people are part of is one that you would never hope to find yourself in. Everyone has something to hide and it makes an even harder job for the team. Read more here
Daisy White’s Wicked Words
I was immediately drawn to the characters, and the pace of writing kept me gripped throughout. Read more here
Jen Med’s Book Reviews
As for the ending … well you think you know where its heading but there is a little hook that might just take you by surprise. Read more here
Mystery Thriller Week
This was a stellar book! Crime fiction just how I like it. Interesting characters weaved into a fascinating plot and crime to solve. The perfect blend of narrative, dialogue, tension, conflict and mystery. I found it to be very engaging and compelling to read. Check it out! Read more here
Black Books Blog
The story then follows the team as they try and unravel what has happened to these young lads, and to find the murderer. There are enough red herrings within this story to keep you guessing all the way through, and I really loved the ending of the book. Read more here
THE DETECTIVES
DCI Stephen Greco is a meticulous policeman with a touch of O.C.D. Easy to admire, but difficult to like. He has created a new team after a personal tragedy threatened to end his career, and is struggling to care for his daughter.
DS Grace Harper is an ambitious young policewoman with excellent people skills. Like Greco, she is a single parent and tries to balance work and childcare.
THE SETTING
The Northern city of Manchester is a place of great diversity, from high-end restaurants and clubs for the moneyed classes to grim housing estates riven by crime and drugs.
DISCOVER YOUR NEXT FAVOURITE MYSTERY SERIES BY THE BEST-SELLING WRITER HELEN H. DURRANT
DCI GRECO
Book 1: DARK MURDER – DCI GRECO SERIES 1 OF 4 – DARK MURDER
Book 2: DARK HOUSES – DCI GRECO SERIES 2 OF 4 – DARK HOUSES
Book 3: DARK TRADE – DCI GRECO SERIES 3 OF 4 – DARK TRADE
Book 4: DARK ANGEL
CALLADINE & BAYLISS
Book 1: DEAD WRONG
Book 2: DEAD SILENT
Book 3: DEAD LIST
Book 4: DEAD LOST
Book 5: DEAD & BURIED
Book 6: DEAD NASTY
Book 7: DEAD JEALOUS
TALBOT DYSON
HIS THIRD VICTIM
THE OTHER VICTIM
