An easy to read crime thriller with a good story that I really enjoyed. Not too taxing a read but one that fans of crime thrillers will enjoy.

Well written, this book had twists and turns on every page. One thing is for certain, the main character
Was a seriously disturbed individual.

Excellent book. Brilliant story and I loved the main characters. I would highly recommend this book.

In this installment of the fantastic series, DCI Sophie Allen and her squad, as well as cops in other jurisdictions, track a serial killer the likes of which they’d never seen before. There’s a huge twist a little past halfway, where it seems the investigation is over, but it continues on to a great climax that I would not have expected.
Even without all the newcomers in other parts of the country, there’s a lot of detectives to keep track of, and I’ve read every book in the series! Even though that’s realistic, I wish there could have been less people to keep track of. But that’s a minor point.
The writing is as smooth as ever, Sophie is as spectacular as ever, and Rae’s really making her mark. I like that Rae’s transition, while mentioned a few times, isn’t treated as a big deal. But more than anything, it takes an excellent writer to make you have sympathy for the story’s devil.
I’m not going to say this is the best of the series, but it is my favorite.

A young man commits suicide. Or did he? 6 months prior a woman commits suicide. Or did she? DCI Allen has to fight to prove that not only were these deaths not suicides but that there is a connection. Lucky for her, as in past cases, she has the support of a strong team, and combined they are able to track down the common link. But as they get closer and closer, they realize the story isn't as simple or as easy as they think it is. In addition to a compelling mystery, Mr. Hambling brought the personal stories back to play a larger role in this story after leaving them in the background for the past few books. While I am okay with letting the mysteries take the forefront most of the time, I really like the characters having deep background stories. I look forward to continuing their stories as well as seeing what crimes DCI Allen solves in the future!

I wish I had read the previous 5 books and my review I am sure would have been different. Could not relate to some of the characters

Thank you Netgalley and Joffe Books for this ARC.

While I enjoyed the story, the characters felt somewhat flat to me. I have not read the previous books in the series, so that may be partly why the characters (Sophie in particular) felt underdeveloped. There was also some politically "correctness" / aspects that I felt detracted from the story line as well.

It was a good story though and moved along at a decent pace.

An intriguing and amazing story! 3/4 of way through and still hadn’t guessed the outcome. Gripping and very readable. Will look out for Michael Hamblings other books

Okay dokey folks I have a confession to make. Although I have all of Michael Hambling’s books on my ever increasing and dangerously teetering ‘TBR’ (to be read) pile, I haven’t actually read one before. Please don’t hate me. When I was asked if I would like to take part in the blog tour for his latest release ‘Evil Crimes’, I grabbed the opportunity because it meant that I could familiarise myself with his work. Boy oh boy am I glad that I did because I now realise just what it is I have been missing out on. I LOVED this book but more about that in a bit.

DCI Sophie Allen is one likeable police officer. She’s in her forties and lives at home with her husband. They seem to get on really well , which seems like a rarity in crime novels. DCI Allen is considered to be the font of all knowledge as regards violent crime and murder within the Dorset area. Something for which she is very well qualified to be. DCI Allen holds a degree in law but uniquely she also has a Masters degree in criminal psychology. She can say what makes criminals tick but she also knows the law and how it can punish the perpetrators of crime. Sophie Allen is the sort of boss that I would want to work for- she is kind, supportive, always ready to lend an ear to those who need it, she’s ready with tea, sympathy and advice, she doesn’t hesitate to stick up for members of her team when the need arises but she also comes down hard on those members of her team, who screw up. DCI Sophie Allen is like a mother hen and her team are her chicks. Sophie is one heck of a strong woman. It’s obvious that she has secrets in her past but she tries not to allow them to affect her present day or future.

I have to say that the villain in this story is somewhat chilling and I could not believe the ease with which she or he sought out a victim and how they managed to get the victim under their spell. The villain displayed a chilling indifference to his/ her victims and I couldn’t believe the ease with which the villain managed to blend in to society. I guess this book shows that you can’t take anybody at face value and you don’t know what lurks beneath the surface.

Every once in a while I discover a new author, I read their book, I find out just what it is I have been missing all these years and I can’t understand why I haven’t read their work before. Well I felt this way about ‘Evil Crimes’ and it’s author. Rest assured that now I have discovered just how good this author is, reading the rest of his books is now a priority. I was hooked from the very first word on the very first page and I was enthralled until the last word on the last page. It was almost as if the book had cast a spell on me. Usually I have the attention span of a gnat and I am easily distracted when I read a book but not in this case. Once I picked up ‘Evil Crimes’ that was it, I just became addicted to reading it. It was almost as if my Kindle became glued to my hand as the book went everywhere with me. I was that into the story that I didn’t realise how quickly the pages were turning and before I knew it I had finished the book, which I had mixed feelings about. Don’t get me wrong, I was pleased to finish the book as I knew how the story ended but I was enjoying the writing style and the story so much that I just wanted it to continue. I liked the way that the author places more emphasis on the psychological aspects of crime and not the blood and guts aspect. You really get a sense of what makes a criminal tick, which I found so very interesting because my dream job is being a criminal psychologist.

In short I loved this book and I can’t wait to read what comes next for DCI Sophie Allen and her team. In the meantime though, I will just content myself with catching up with the previous books in the series. I would definitely recommend this author and his books to anyone. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is an easy and very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

Thank you Net Galley. I thoroughly enjoyed this installment of DI Allen's adventures. Hambling does not disappoint. However, there was less detail about the police personnel in this story and I hope that will not become the new norm. I missed the little details about the characters.

Yet another great novel from Michael Hambling. I have read all of the Sophie Allen series and each one just gets better. The plot lines are complex and topical. I really enjoy the straightforward narrative. The writing is becoming more fluid. Look forward to the next offering

Once again we have a Michael Hambling mystery with our favorite DCI Sophie Allen. Another book in the series but you could read it without the other books and have no problem, I haven't read the first three yet due to not being able to find them.
The mysteries have your usual murder with a touch of humor. I highly recommend these!

I really enjoyed this book, it was a well written crime thriller with an excellent plot!

This is the first book that I have by this author but I liked it so much that I have downloaded the rest of the series to catch up - it can easily be read as a stand alone but I do love picking up a new series so was delighted when I found this one!

The plot is great and I loved the pace, the story is easily believable and I enjoyed the interaction between the main characters and I do love a good crime book.  Five stars from me, I really enjoyed it!!

Very good book, lots of stories mingled together to find the sole perpetrator. Why kill?

This is the first book of Michael's I have read but it definitely won't be the last as I am now off to read the previous 5 books in the series.
Even though it is book 6 of the series it is very easy to read as a stand alone novel, which I have done, although it would be best to read the others as well if this one is anything to go by.
At the start of the book there are two apparent suicides, which are seemingly unrelated so the cases go cold and get forgotten about until DCI Sophie Allen gets a lead that one of them may not have been suicide but could have been murder.
There is one person linking the two dead people, a mysterious a young woman known only as 'H', so DCI Allen and her team have to peice everything together from very little to get to the bottom of the case.
The story is really well written with lots of twists and when you think you have it sorted something happens to make you change your mind. Overall a 5 star read, and I can't wait to read more from Michael

I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for a review copy of Evil Crimes, the sixh novel o feature DCI Sophie Allen of the Dorset Police.

Sophie and the team are called out to a suspicious death where a body is found in the sea at the botom of a steep cliff. While they are trying to figure out if it was suicide or an accident certain anomalies come to their attention which make them think it might be murder. When DS Barry Marsh remembers a case he consulted on a few monhs ago that had certain similariies the hunt is on o find H, the common denominator.

I thoroughly enjoyed Evil Crimes which is another solid addition to a great series I have been reading for years (the first three were originally published under different titles). I like a good police procedural and this is an excellent example with its emphasis on the investigative process. This is a necessity in the novel as the reader initially has more information than the team. Normally I prefer to watch the investigation unfold with the detectives and have the same information as they do but not in this case. Mr Hambling has judged his information flow very well and there are still surprises in every chapter and a great twist towards the end. It held my attention throughout and I read it in one sitting.

I like the characters and the closeknit team Mr Hambling has created. Sophie is very obviously the leader through both her intelligence and intuition and warm, strong personality. It is very pleasant to read a novel with a strong, capable 40 something woman with no hangups and little baggage as a protagonist. It means the plot is strong enough not to need the more usual character gimmicks. The other team members, Barry Marsh and Rae Gregson, bring their own strengths which make the team highly effective and close enough to socialise outside of work.

Evil Crimes works well as a stand alone but there are some references to past events which may trouble some readers but not enough to have much impact on the plot. I have no hesitation in recommending it as a good read.

After the body of a young man is spotted in the stormy sea of Dancing Ledge In Dorset,Detective Sophie Allen and her team finds themselves caught up in a complex case involving blackmail,secrets,lies,manipulation and murder.

They soon discover some curious links to a suicide that happened six months earlier.The connection between the two cases seems to be a strikingly attractive female student.As the team probes deeper into the deaths alarming facts slowly come to light.

Sophie and her team race against time to uncover the tragic secrets behind the crimes and stop any more deaths.

This is a fast paced,twist packed,well written,gripping thriller that is quite dark at times.The plot is Intreguing and keep me guessing and frantically turning the pages,totally engrossed in the story that was unfolding before my eyes.The characters where a diverse,mixed bag of well developed,realistic personalities.I liked Sophie and her team,they worked well together and it made a nice change that they socialized outside of work as well.My absolute favourite character was Sergeant Rose Simons,her witty and sarcastic comments where really funny,she wasn't in the book enough for my liking.

Although this is the sixth book in the series,it can be read and enjoyed as a stand alone.I haven't read any of the previous titles but that didn't spoil my enjoyment of this riveting thriller.

EXCERPT: . . . I think she's convinced herself that there might be something wrong, and she wants to nip it in the bud before we have another death on our hands. If it is the same woman behind these two deaths, then she's right to push hard. Killers can soon get addicted to what they do. The boss is worried that she might have already chosen another victim. If that's the case, it's a race and we're handicapped because there's so much we don't yet know.

THE BLURB: A young man's body is spotted in the stormy sea off Dancing Ledge in Dorset.

Did he lose his footing in the gale force winds and fall in? Or is there a more sinister cause of death?

Detective Sophie Allen's team discover some curious links to a suicide that happened six months earlier.

A strikingly attractive female student connects the cases. Alarming facts slowly come to light as the team probes more deeply.

Is the young woman as evil as she seems or is someone else manipulating her?

DCI Sophie Allen races against time to uncover the tragic secrets behind the crimes and stop any more deaths.

MY THOUGHTS: How have I previously missed out on Michael Hambling? How many times have I said that I wished someone would give me a strong female lead detective who isn't carrying loads of baggage and lives a relatively normal life? A female Alan Banks.

Well, here she is. DCI Sophie Allen is happily married to the father of her two daughters, one coming up eighteen, the other a little older. She has a great relationship with both her daughters and with her mother, who’s quite a colorful character. She works well with her team. A nice woman who gets the job done. A breath of fresh air!

And if you think that sounds boring, you'd be wrong. The characters are well portrayed, the plot unusual and interesting. I liked this so much that I am planning to gorge myself on the earlier books in the series over the Christmas break.

And, in case you are wondering, Evil Crimes works perfectly well as a stand alone.

Thank you to Joffe Books via Netgalley for providing me with a digital copy of Evil Crimes by Michael Hambling for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

A pretty good read. Enough suspense to keep you on your toes. I enjoyed reading this.

Book 6 in this crime thriller series has Sophie Allen and her team investigating suicides that could actually have been murder.

One young man fell off a cliff's ledge. An older woman was found hanging from a beam in her home. The only thing they had in common was a woman with long red hair.

The more they dig, the more facts come to light. And then another death takes them all by surprise.

Although part of a series, this one does quite well as a stand alone. I would recommend starting with the first book ..perhaps a marathon reading. It's a terrific way of getting to know not only Sophie, but her entire team.

The author has done a great job with characterization. Narratives and conversations are smooth flowing with a great deal of credibility. There are twists and turns leading to a startling conclusion. Crime buffs will immensely enjoy this one.

Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books / Netgalley for the advance digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

4.5 Stars