Dead Lands is a British crime thriller set in 1970's Britain. Although it ultimately didn't work for me, the author's hard work and dedication produced a novel that appears to have captured other readers' attention. Dead Lands jumps a lot through different points of view, much more like a movie than a novel, and it was hard to focus on one character or get a sense of what was at stake.

A very good debut novel set in London in the 1970's. DI Breck and DI Kearns begin the hunt for a murderer. Their prime suspect escapes from custody and the hunt begins. There are some fascinating characters and plenty dark humour and a surprise ending. I liked the edginess of DI Breck and the old fashioned policing before the technology invasion. A very good read. Thank you Net Galley for my copy. I reviewed on Goodreads.

Imagine crime scene investigation, detective work, and solving a murder with multiple suspects all without the modern day technology we are all used to seeing sparkle and amaze in hit shows like CSI, NCIS, and Law & Order. Hard isn’t it? Now think of a team of Detective Investigators circa 1970s who had to use nothing, but their talent, instinct, and bravado to crack the case of a bloodthirsty killer who loves to watch death fall over his victims…but not until after he’s played with them first.

Author Lloyd Otis makes a solid debut as a novelist with Dead Lands. From the first chapter we are introduced to a deranged teenage boy who murders his father, buries him in the backyard, then turns in for the night proud to wear the evidence of his first kill under his fingernails and on his skin for the night. Then wakes up the next morning a murders a woman, but not before letting her think she could get away from his grasp first. And from then on it’s kinda nuts.

As I moved forward I found myself suspicious of most all of the characters believing each must be the culprit (many of whom are cops and crime scene investigators whose intentions seem to be a little off) except for the ever devoted lead Detective Investigator, Arlo Break who is determined not to let the killer on the loose slip through his fingers.

Ever so carefully, Lloyd Otis keeps the mystery and “The Messenger” shrouded in secret as the case progresses and suspect shift from one to the next. At times the twists and turns in Dead Lands may make you wonder how will Otis bring this altogether? While some may see Detective Kearns’ character as a bit of a distraction I see something else….that Lloyd Otis skillfully uses Detective Kearns’ character as an added level of suspense and intrigue….and it works. By the book’s conclusion readers will find satisfaction after being taken on a journey through murder and law enforcement in the time of disco, retro, and budding forensics. As Lloyd Otis writes and publishes more books in the future I look forward to seeing what stories he imagines and visualizes for readers on paper (and eBook 😉) to keep them guessing and questioning long into the sleepless nights. I give “Dead Lands” 👉 (3 Stars) ✨✨✨

Takeaway quotes:

• “The speckles of blood. A cheque book and a clump of the victim’s hair. He then took a closer look at the body of the teenage girl propped against the wall. She had been left in a similar way to Janet Maskell. Her pink matted hair glued itself to her face by dried blood and the most poignant thing were her eyes. Left wide open as if trying to say something and point Breck in the right direction.”

• “We’re in the dead lands, a place where you’re judged solely by the word of others. No one ever gets out. They stay trapped in it forever.”

• “Meanwhile, Mo Mace sat in the corner hidden by the shadows, epitomising the very reason why he had been able to survive in his industry for so long.”

• “He was not an educated man, never had the patience for the learning, but that spurred him on. Intelligence could manifest itself in other ways and he exited her home as if it was his very own, knowing that the cloak of anonymity would be his most powerful ally in the days to come.”

~ Grantham H. A.K.A. The Novel Gent

After finishing this book, I can say that it had a decent plot that was not executed very well.
We follow Detective Inspector Breck and Detector Sergeant Kearns as they are solving the murder of Janet Victoria Maskell. Their investigation leads to Alex Troy who claims to be innocent, but declines to provide an alibi.
It has potential, but I was left confused a lot of the time. I felt that small plot points that had nothing to do with each other were often hastily connected just to further the plot. It was a bit hard to read at times as well. Sometimes it seemed to switch pov in the middle of a page or paragraph and I had to reread a bit just to figure out who seemed to be talking.
Overall, I think it was a good plot, but could use some work.