I'm new to this series, but you don't need to have read the previous volumes to enjoy this whodunit. Well, it's more than a whodunit, it's several cases involving the same people so that one crime leads to another. When a series of unexplained suicides come to the attention of Sophie Allen's team, they will unravel a plot of blackmail, emotional abuse and, eventually, murder. The rhythm never lets up and one revelation leads to the next at breakneck speed. In the middle of this is "H," a mysterious and devastating young woman. Sophie will first have to identify her and then figure out how her involvement ended in death for so many people. There are secrets upon secrets and the ending is fantastic. Even if I didn't know the characters, they are all very well defined and it wasn't hard to follow the dynamics. I may have been a little out of the top regarding Sophie's family life, but that is just a small part. I look forward to reading the rest of this series.

Evil Crimes by Michael Hambling is book 6 in the DI Sophie Allen Series.

I love this series and was very excited to read this new book, thanks to Joffe Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

I had a feeling of great anticipation starting this book I really wanted to love it as much as the rest of the series and I wasn’t disappointed; it had me gripped right from the first page. Each book in this series seems to get better and better.

The story-line was interesting, there was plenty of suspense and twists in the plot and I love it when I don’t guess who the bad guy is! This book has plenty going for it, it is dark and moody, and it keeps you on your toes because you really don’t know what’s coming next. I enjoyed this book so much I was kind of disappointed when I reached the end. Now that is the sign of a really good book.

I think that you could read this as a stand-alone novel but I do recommend that you read the series in order so that you can get background information on the team of detectives as there is some diversity in the team. It’s nice to get to know the characters anyway then when you read the next book it’s like meeting up with old friends.

I really enjoyed this book; it gets a very well deserved 5 stars from me. I highly recommend this series of books; it’s a really good entertaining read.

#michaelhambling #dcisophieallen #netgalley My first DCI Sophie Allen, and I'm hooked. Well written, plotted with good characters and a creepy, creepy villain, who isn't one dimensional. I enjoyed how Hambling seems to contrast "normal" vs. "abnormal" - it made for some interesting thinking during the read and after I finished. Look forward to catching up with the other books in the series.

P. S. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for the opportunity to read this novel by Michael Hambling in return for my honest review.

This is the first novel I have read by this author and will now seek out all of his previous books in the Sophie Allen series as I was enthralled. The story was unusual and didn't hide away from addressing sexual issues and relationships. However, this was only part of the intrigue.

The plot was full of twists and turns with well-rounded, complex characters. Highly enjoyable and recommended.

Evil crimes by Michael Hambling.
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?
A fantastic read with great characters. Didn't expect that. 4*. Netgalley and joffe books.

Another enjoyable instalment in the Sophie Allen series.
Fast paced gritty, complex characters and a plot with lots of twists and turns.