Thank you to everyone who helped with the launch of RUTHLESS CRIMES your help is very much appreciated.
Blog Tour reviews:
The Word is Out The plot is complex and with lots of turns in the story it was hard to decide which of the many characters was guilty and who was innocent.
Bookish Jottings Gritty, thought-provoking and superbly crafted, Michael Hambling’s Ruthless Crimes is a compulsively readable thriller that is simply first class.
Beyond the Books I love the teamwork and banter between the team and even when other teams become involved it is just as easy going. Another cracker from Michael Hambling yet again.
Linda Strong Book Reviews RUTHLESS CRIMES features a complex plot, full of twists and turns. There are also many characters to follow, some are easy to follow .. some are more complicated.
Ginger Book Geek In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Ruthless Crimes’ and I would have no hesitation in recommending this book to other readers.
Debbie Hipster A serious and complex detective book. Enjoyed it thoroughly.
Black Books Blog
Ruthless Crimes (Detective Sophie Allen #9)
Format: Kindle
Publisher – JOFFE BOOKS
Publication Date – 9th September 2020
Genre – Crime Fiction
Author – Michael Hambling
Buy from AMAZON
Read more on GOODREADS
Looking for a gripping mystery by a best-selling author? Full of twists and turns, this crime thriller will keep you turning the pages until the satisfying conclusion.
TWO VICTIMS WITH NO PASTS
A man is found stabbed to death on the Southampton morning commuter train.
But why can’t Detective Sophie Allen’s team find out anything about his history? And why was he staying in a house that seems to be owned by a government security unit?
Then there is another stabbing, this time in a refuge for abused women. And again, Sophie can find very little about the victim’s life.
HOW DOES ALL THIS CONNECT TO DESPERATE MIGRANTS ARRIVING ON THE BEACHES?
The Dorset-based detective team discovers duplicity that reaches to the top echelons of government in this twisting tale of treachery, tragedy and hope.
Discover a captivating crime mystery which will have you gripped from start to finish.
My Review
Detective Sophie Allen is called to investigate a murder on a commuter train. The victim appears to have no past, his home no personal touch and his murder no motive. Further investigation reveals links to a Government security unit. Then there is another murder.
This is a very complex story involving trafficking of immigrants, tragedy and secrets. Can Sophie and her team work their way through the cover ups and lies to uncover the truth?
A very gripping story which not only gets the adrenaline running but also plays with the emotions. I couldn’t put this down it is a very realistic story one that could be playing out as we are reading and that makes it all the more gripping.
Sophie and her team have developed over the course of the series but apparently they have a lot more to give and I felt I got to know them a lot more during this book.
An excellent read and well worth the 5 stars.
Thank you to the author and Joffe Books for the advance digital copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own and not biased in any way.
What readers are saying about MICHAEL HAMBLING
“Very well written and highly recommended.” Viv
“An utterly compelling book from Michael Hambling.” Ron
“The characters were a diverse, mixed bag of well-developed, realistic personalities.” Nicki
“This book is a must read.” Barbara
“This was a good book, I love Sophie as a character.” Hannelore
THE DETECTIVES
DCI Sophie Allen is Dorset’s acknowledged expert on murder and violent crime. She is 42 as the series starts, and lives with her husband and younger daughter in Wareham. Her elder daughter is studying in London. Sophie has a law degree and a master’s in criminal psychology. Her brilliant mind conceals some dark secrets from her past.
DS Barry Marsh is based at Swanage police station. He’s quiet, methodical and dedicated, the perfect foil for Sophie’s hidden fragility.
THE SETTING
Dorset. A beautiful English county which includes a stunning section of the coastline, but whose beauty belies darkness beneath the surface.
DISCOVER YOUR NEXT FAVOURITE MYSTERY SERIES NOW
THE DCI SOPHIE ALLEN BOOKS
Book 1: DARK CRIMES
Book 2: DEADLY CRIMES
Book 3: SECRET CRIMES
Book 4: BURIED CRIMES
Book 5: TWISTED CRIMES
Book 6: EVIL CRIMES
Book 7: SHADOW CRIMES
Book 8: SILENT CRIMES
Book 9: RUTHLESS CRIMES
Michael Hambling – author bio
Like many writers, I have been a keen reader all of my life. I remember one day as a nine year old in the summer holidays, when I visited the local library four times in one day because a child’s ticket only allowed one book out at a time! I can even remember the plot of one book, a story about a boy taking up fly-fishing, read while sitting outside in a sunny back garden in Bristol.
I live in the west-country, in the beautiful cathedral city of Salisbury, although I set my novels in the neighbouring county of Dorset. We own a lovely flat in the small Dorset coastal town of Swanage, and spend a lot of time there, walking the famous Jurassic Coast world heritage site.. The early novels in the series are based on the Isle of Purbeck, one of the UK’s most beautiful coastal regions. But the rest of the county of Dorset does get a look in, and there are scenes set in other locations in the central south of England.
I write because I constantly create scenes, people, imaginary conversations and unusual situations in my head. I have always done so, ever since I was a child. Using the richness of the English language to set down these creations in words is a great joy. Maybe by the time I’ve edited a passage for the umpteenth time it’s beginning to lose some of its sparkle for me, but I do believe in reshaping and polishing until it’s as good as I can make it. It then becomes something about which I can feel some justifiable pride.
Who are my own favourite writers? Hilary Mantel, of course. Not just the the recent Thomas Cromwell novels, but the brilliant and sly characterisation of Beyond Black.
Doris Lessing has written some startlingly original stories over many years. I’m also a great fan of David Mitchell. He shows great creativity in all of his novels.
Philip Pullman has written many books of startling originality, full of imaginative ideas. Not just the Lara series, but the earlier Sally Lockhart novels. One of my sons bought me La Belle Sauvage (volume one of the Book of Dust trilogy) for Christmas. I loved it, so much so that I’ve already re-read it a month later, something very rare for me. Wonderful stuff.
Another author I’ve come to admire greatly is Charity Norman. She writes about families in crisis situations and how the problem is partly resolved. I came to her books with “The New Woman”, a novel that probes the problems created by gender variance. Her other novels are equally good. Her writing style is outstanding.
I’ve recently read “The Lovely Bones” by Alice Sebold and was bowled over by it. So much emotional punch and so well written. I’ll be packing her other novels to read on my forthcoming holiday.
In crime fiction I like Val McDiarmid’s work, Kate Atkinson’s Jackson Brodie novels and the books of Mo Hayder. I also enjoy Colin Dexter’s Morse and Ian Rankin’s Rebus novels.
I think it important that readers are aware of my own gender variant pressures. I don’t include a small number of LGBT issues in my novels just to be politically correct. I do so because I am a proud member of that select community.
Please feel free to contact me by e-mail if you have questions about any of my novels..
You can read more about me on my Amazon Author Page.
LINKS
Website: http://www.michaelhambling.co.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaelhambling.author
