The Recently Read posts are not typical book reviews. As a writer, I do not believe I should be reviewing the hard work of other writers. These posts are simply books I have recently read and enjoyed and will share with you. They will not always be crime books as I am trying to widen my reading selection. I hope you enjoy some of these with me.
The Dark Winter – David Mark
Hull, East Yorkshire. Two weeks before Christmas, an elderly man – the only survivor of a fishing trawler tragedy 40 years before – is found murdered at sea. In a church, a young girl – the last surviving member of a family slaughtered during the conflict in Sierra Leone – is hacked to death with a machete. A junkie, who fled the burning house where he had set his family alight, is found incinerated on a rundown council estate. Someone is killing sole survivors in the manner they had escaped death. And it falls to Detective Sergeant Aector McAvoy of Humberside CID to find out whom. McAvoy, despite being a six-foot-five, man mountain of a police officer, is not your typical bullish detective. A shy, gentle giant, he is a family man obsessed with being a good and decent cop; more dab hand with a database than gung-ho with a gun – traits that have seen him become increasingly isolated from his colleagues in the force. Desperate to prove his worth, McAvoy knows he must establish the motive behind the killings if he is to have any chance of pinning the perpetrator. And he must do so quickly, as this twisted yet ingenious killer appears to have an appetite for murder.
My Thoughts
I thoroughly enjoyed The Dark Winter by David Mark. I think I went into it with pre-conceived idea’s on what to expect, but Mark very quickly turned all that on its head. I was expecting dark and hard-boiled. Some stereotypical traits. What I got was a DS who was real and human and had a warmth about him. A warmth in contrast with a cold hard environment. I loved how this worked.
The sense of place is incredibly well drawn and you can feel the cold and the emptiness of a low economic climate area, where people no longer care. McAvoy on the other hand, cared a lot. He is a character with depth and one I can well imagine reading again and again. At times I thought he was a little too indecisive, but considering the circumstances Mark had put him in, it wasn’t completely surprising. I look forward to seeing how he grows and progresses. A definite series keeper for me. I look forward to seeing where Mark takes McAvoy next.
Margot Kinberg says
Rebecca – This one was already on my list, and you’ve made me even keener to read it. I’m so glad you enjoyed it and it’s good to hear that this isn’t a stereotypical ‘dark hardboied noir kind of book. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Rebecca Bradley says
I’d love to hear what you think of it when you’ve read it Margot.
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
Fair way to handle ‘book reviews.’
A sense of place sounds like it was essential for this book.
Rebecca Bradley says
It was a great setting for the book.
Misha Gericke (@MishaMFB) says
Sounds like something I’d love reading.
Rebecca Bradley says
I really enjoyed it 🙂
Jane Isaac says
Sounds like another one for my list. Thanks Rebecca!
jamieayres says
I know what you mean. Shortly after joining Goodreads, I decided to only star books with a 4 or 5. If I didn’t think they were worthy of that, I just let it be. Kinda goes back to that lesson Mom taught about not saying anything at all unless it’s nice, I guess.
Sarah says
I agree – an enjoyable début from a writer with a bright future.