ADVENT BOOK BLOG 22 – Nov-2018 (2) – The Enigma (DS Smith & DC Harriet Taylor #1) by Stewart Giles #crimefiction #detective @stewartgiles

Advent Book Blog 22 and it is The Enigma by Stewart Giles in the limelight. This is the first in a stunning new series featuring both the detectives from Stewart’s 2 other series. The two are brought together in one book that you won’t be able to put down. Brilliant!!

The Enigma (DS Jason Smith & DC Harriet Taylor #1)

Available from Amazon UK US AU CA

From #1 best-selling author: Stewart Giles comes a new detective series featuring the detectives from both the series’ we know and love.

In Trotterdown, Cornwall a boat, The Enigma washes in to the harbour. The skipper is dead, and Harriet Taylor is brought in to investigate. But 1 dead body is not the only crime the team have to deal with.

Meanwhile, further up the coast in Whitby a boat washes up on the rocks just outside the harbour. Everyone on board is dead. Whitby Police are out of their depth, so DS Jason Smith is called in to help.

It soon becomes clear the cases are connected and the teams from York and Trotterdown settle down to work with each other.

This is a unique story with twist, turns and shocks all the way through making it an adrenaline pumping read you will not be able to put down.

My thoughts

This is the first in a new series featuring detectives from Stewart’s other series’; Harriet from the brilliant DC Harriet Taylor series set in Cornwall and DS Smith from the awesome Smith series set in York.

Now I am a BIG Stewart Giles fan I think the guy has real talent and each book is better than the last. I have had the pleasure of reading the whole Smith series back to back and I have also read the Harriet books so I was very excited to hear of this new series.

Although there are many murders this is not a particularly gory read the author has expertly managed to build in the revulsion and evilness of the murders while making it acceptable reading for the more feint hearted of crime fiction fans.

Smith and Whitton married at the end of book 8: Unworthy, and Laura, their daughter, is now 18 months old. Whitton is back at work full time and Smith is feeling very protective of his new family which is understandable given all the loved ones he has lost and the death and destruction he lives with every day. I think you need to take this into account when reading this book if you haven’t read the previous ones but otherwise it is a perfect stand alone story.

Harriet Taylor comes from Edinburgh and transferred to Cornwall when her husband was killed in an accident with his lover in the car and she found herself subject to a lot of gossiping and sniggering behind her back. She has no plans to return to Edinburgh anytime soon.

I wont rewrite the synopsis but boats wash up in York and Whitby with Harriet and Smith being on the respective investigations. It soon becomes clear that the link is Edinburgh. Will Harriet face her ex colleagues and travel back to her home town to investigate? Meanwhile Smith receives threatening messages as a nemesis from his past reappears.

This is a fast paced read with twists, turns and danger around every corner. Smith and Harriet are at risk and so are the people they care about as a psychopathic killer with absolutely no conscience travels the UK leaving dead bodies in his wake.

I just kept turning page after page it is an adrenaline pumping read I simply could not put down and as the pages kept turning the endings were total curve balls I really was not expecting.

All I can say is WOW this is a must read for anyone who loves crime fiction and to the author: please hurry up with the next book.

Absolutely awesome definitely 5 Golden Stars (maybe platinum) this is now top of my Picks of 2018 list.

This is a fast paced read with twists, turns and danger around every corner. Smith and Harriet join forces to stop a psychopathic killer no conscience.

What the Bloggers thought:

On The Shelf Reviews

What a thrilling adventure The Enigma is! I was hooked from the very beginning with plenty of twists and turns to keep me turning those pages! Read more here

Book Worm

Honestly i didnt want it to finish and couldnt stop reading! But, Stewart has left it open for more!!! YAY well done Stewart keep them coming. Read more here

Sassy Redhead Book Reviews

I enjoyed this book. This was my first read of Mr. Giles stories, but found it to be a suspense filled story and the twists in the story were interesting. Read more here

The Bookworm Drinketh

All in all though, it was a well written mystery thriller! Read more here

DebbieHipster

I knew I was in for a treat when I heard the DC Harriet Taylor series and DS Jason Smith series were combining. What a read, a thrilling wild ride!! Read more here

Ginger Book Geek

Oh my goodness, gracious me ‘The Enigma’ is one hell of a read and then some. I read the book within a day. Once I picked the book up and began to read, I found it impossible to be put the book down. Read more here

Joanna Larum’s Reviews

I would recommend to all who love a fast-moving, adrenaline-pumping story. Hang onto your hats and dive in! Read more here

Donna’s Book Blog

The book is very well written, has a great flow to it and it was a page turner for me, it didn’t take me long to read and I thoroughly enjoyed every page. Read more here

Linda Strong Book Reviews

This is an action-packed page-turner with more twists and turns than a pretzel. The explosive ending is explosive. What a riveting story to start a new series with! Read more here

Turn The Page

Being a massive Harriet can, i could not wait to read this! I was not disappointed, the plot was entertaining, captivating abs fun, and i thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Read more here

Akamatra

I got caught up in the story from the start and couldn’t put the book down. Now I am reaching for the previous books in both detectives history! Read more here

Black Books Blog

Overall the book is a brilliant read, which kept me hooked all the way through to the end, and I loved the way that Stewart combines the two characters into a believable and enjoyable story. Read more here

THE DETECTIVES

DC Harriet Taylor had only been married for 2 years when her philandering husband was killed in a car crash. It is common knowledge around the station that the woman who died next to him was his latest lover. Harriet transferred to Trotterdown to escape the gossip and sympathetic looks. She is now finding her way around Cornwall and getting to know the other members of the team.

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.

ALSO BY STEWART GILES

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

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