Today I am sharing my review of THE CASE OF THE HEADLESS BILLIONAIRE by Micheal Leese as part of the Blog Tour. This is the first book in a stunning new series featuring Jonathan Roper, a brilliantly unique character you will love.
THE CASE OF THE HEADLESS BILLIONAIRE
Format – Kindle
Publisher – Joffe Books
Publication Date – 18th August 2021
Genre – Crime thriller, mystery and suspense
Author – Michael Leese
Buy from AMAZON
Read more on GOODREADS
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Michael Leese has created a fascinating new character in Jonathan Roper as the hero of what promises to be an intriguing new series.” Ricky
MEET YOUR NEW FAVOURITE DETECTIVE ODD COUPLE: DCI BRIAN HOOLEY AND CONSULTING INVESTIGATOR JONATHAN ROPER
Please note this was previously published as Going Underground.
Billionaire philanthropist Sir James Taylor has been missing for three weeks.
Then his headless torso turns up in the basement of a disused East London warehouse.
How could someone so rich and famous disappear without a trace? And who would want to tear him limb from limb?
Chief Inspector Brian Hooley knows his Special Investigations Unit needs help if they’re to have any chance of catching this depraved killer.
Enter Jonathan Roper.
Roper is one of Scotland Yard’s top investigators — exceptionally clever and doggedly determined. His autism means he sees the world differently, and he’s always spotting things that no else can.
Hooley knows Jonathan Roper is the only man for the job. Roper swiftly unearths a gruesome snuff video from the dark web showing Sir James’s death in horrifying detail.
Then Roper is beaten to a bloody pulp on his own doorstep. It’s a deadly warning from those who want their secrets kept hidden . . .
A FAST-PACED, TWISTING DETECTIVE MYSTERY THAT WILL HAVE YOU HOOKED.
If you like Sherlock, Elementary, Monk or The Bridge, you will love Michael Leese’s unique new detective odd couple. And if you enjoy David Baldacci, Ian Rankin, Angela Marsons, J.D. Kirk, Steve Parker and Alex Shaw, then this series is definitely for you.
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE CASE OF THE HEADLESS BILLIONAIRE:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “This was a hard book to put down. The story begins with an explosion, and the action keeps exploding throughout. I look forward eagerly to the next book in the series.” Ron
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “It’s one of the best books I’ve read; loved the characters, totally believable. The way the story was built up kept the pages turning. Loved the unseen twist near the end.” Susan
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Leese has created a genuinely fascinating — and appealingly new — kind of detective in Jonathan Roper. [Roper and Hooley] offer a nice — and again, new — twist on the familiar ‘odd couple’ detective formula.” M. Johnstone
MEET THE DETECTIVES:
CONSULTING INVESTIGATOR JONATHAN ROPER
Ask Jonathan Roper how he is and he will either ignore you because he’s busy working or respond with a comprehensive list of aches and pains. Despite his civilian status, he plays an integral part in the Special Investigations Unit. He can consume vast quantities of data and see patterns where no one else can. Roper’s formidable intelligence and ability to concentrate can sometimes see him disappear down rabbit holes in pursuit of the truth. But Hooley is always there to pull him back out.
DCI BRIAN HOOLEY
You would be forgiven for thinking that this grumpy, middle-aged, pint-loving copper has seen it all and thinks he has nothing left to learn. But in fact, Brian Hooley always has time for his team, and his sense of duty is just as strong today as when he first started out. Working with Roper means he has to withstand a barrage of bracingly direct personal comments. Despite this, the DCI knows Roper is the man to turn to when everyone else has given up.
THE SETTING
From Sloane Square to the west, Streatham to the south, the Post Office Tower to the north and Canary Wharf to the east, Roper and Hooley pound pavements across every inch of London in search of wrongdoing. The City bristles with high-powered sleaze and the grimy backstreets contain criminals from every walk of life imaginable.
DETECTIVES ROPER AND HOOLEY MYSTERIES:
Book 1: THE CASE OF THE HEADLESS BILLIONAIRE
My Review
This is my first book by Michael Leese but it wont be my last. The action starts at the beginning as Hooley is tasked with finding the identity of a body that is missing its arms legs and head. The identity is a shock and sets in motion an investigation that is more entangled than a plate of spaghetti.
I need to stop here and talk a bit about the characters. This book is unique in that the team have a civilian investigator in the form of Jonathan Roper, a strange individual with an absolute genius brain. Out of all the characters I have read and loved over the years this one will stay with me. Roper is just brilliant I love his quirks, his strange ways of processing data and the way he interacts with Hooley.
By comparison Hooley is the personification of a detective, a larger than life character with a heart of gold and a fatherly relationship with Roper. The pair make a very effective team overseen by Mayweather who is caught between the orders from above and her wish to back her team.
The story is fast paced and kept the pages turning with many shocks along the way and the case taking many different directions it soon becomes clear that Roper and his unique thought processes are the answer to cracking this case/s
An absolutely brilliant read well worth the 5 stars.
MICHAEL LEESE
Before taking up writing, Michael Leese was a national newspaper journalist for over 25 years, with the last part of his career working for the London Evening Standard. The most memorable stories he covered ranged from Tiananmen Square, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the death of Princess Diana, the 9/11 attacks and the two Gulf wars.
In the latter part of his career, Mike was a news editor. In this role he gained insights into many specialties from crime and court reporting, to political and science news and the behind the scenes working of government, the City and other institutions. Mike’s passion for news and current affairs remains very strong and influences the writing of his books.
BOOKS BY MICHAEL LEESE
DETECTIVES ROPER AND HOOLEY MYSTERIES:
-
THE CASE OF THE HEADLESS BILLIONAIRE
FOLLOW MICHAEL ON
AUTHOR WEBSITE
FACEBOOK
GOODREADS
I am always on the look out for bloggers and reviewers if you are interested you can sign up via the links below:
Bloggers or reviewers interested in joining Blog tours: https://mailchi.mp/74b299fbb681/bloggersignup
Reviewers who would like the opportunity to review advance copies: https://mailchi.mp/269c6ce3e0d7/stewart-giles-advance-readers
