Old secrets lead to murder in this well done procedural. It might be the third in the series - and I hadn't read any of the earlier ones- but it was great as a standalone. DS Mhairi McLeod is holding DI Frank Farrell together in more ways than one. He's a former priest who is using alcohol to self medicate his guilt and shame. The latter is fairly common in this genre but the former makes him unique. Mhairi and Frank have found themselves in Dumfries when the wife of a solicitor is murdered. Just being there sends Frank spinning but Mhairi pulls clues and when someone else is murdered, well, they both go to work. This has a twisty plot with some red herrings- Baldwin wisely keeps it hard to identify the culprit and the reason for the murders. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read for procedural fans.

In Scotland, DI Frank Farrell and DS McLeod are tasked with investigating the brutal murder of Gina, a defense solicitor’s wife. The investigation returns them to Dumfries, where neither has returned in over a year since an investigation left a friend and colleague severely injured. When Aaron, the teenage son of another defense solicitor, is murdered they find he has a tattoo that potentially links the cases. Police in this small rural area are swamped, trying to determine if the two deaths are linked, if there are separate murderers, or even if both cases are connected to a fatal fire that took a woman's life a decade prior.
Avenge the Dead was well-paced and interesting, with a good sized group of suspects and a number of possible motives. At times I wanted to yell because characters ignored dangerous and abusive behavior for years then were "shocked" to learn of criminal activity. Mad as it makes me, that is realistic though difficult to read. You can read this book without reading the earlier books in this series, but because characters are still attempting to deal with fallout from events in a prior book it would be best to read the series in order.

Content Warnings: SPOILER rape; pictures and video taken of women in sexual situations without their knowledge or consent; death of a child; self-harm; stalking SPOILER

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC. The opinions in this review are honest and my own.

DI Farrell and DS McLeod return in Avenge the Dead which is the latest book from Jackie Baldwin.

Farrell and McLeod have to return to Dumfries following the death of the wife of a local solicitor which is soon followed by the death of the son of another local solicitor but what is the link?

The plot and various subplots are good and kept me entertained and interested throughout although there were times where some of the storytelling felt a little disjointed and the timelines didn’t flow

That saying these are only very minor quibbles and I still enjoyed the book and look forward to catching up with Farrell, McLeod and the others in future books

Recommended

Another new author for me and this book is part of a series. A good read unfortunately I haven't read the previous books so I was missing an awful lot of the back story. This book can be read as a stand alone and I will certainly search out the rest of this series and read from the start.
Thanks to HarperCollins, One More Chapter and Netgalley for the ARC

#AvengeTheDead #NetGalley It has been quite a while since I read book number two in this series so I was very excited to be able to read and review Book 3. Avenge The Dead did not disappoint. Brutal and Gritty in parts whilst sensitive and emotional in others, this book had me turning the pages well into the night. Plenty of action which is always a plus for me. This is capable of being read as a standalone but reading at least book two would give you some background to the main characters, particularly DI Frank Farrell and DS Mhairi McLeod who I really love. I will be keen to read the next book to see how the relationship between Frank and Mhairi develops and also to see what progress their colleague Lind makes. An excellent 5 star read.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and Emma Welton of Damp Pebbles Blog Tours for a copy of Avenge the Dead in exchange for an honest review.

Here's the short version of this review: It's an enjoyable police procedural/crime novel. Go read it.

If that's not enough to compel you, here's my longer review:

The book's prologue ends with an act of brutal violence: the fiery death of a nameless woman. But the fire doesn't come until after I felt sympathy for this woman, who apparently has some morning-after regrets about sexual and drug-related indiscretions with people she will face in court the next day. Then she dies.

There are so many juicy, alluring tidbits in this opening. As the story jumps to the present day, I read on, eager to figure out how that death relates to the current murder. Or does it?

Of course it does. In real life, it wouldn't necessarily; when one investigator has a hunch that the two cases are connected, the rest dismiss it.

But this is fiction: what happens in the prologue (especially a murder) must affect the current story . . . somehow.

It's a complicated story, a scattered jigsaw puzzle of seemingly disconnected pieces. As a lot of readers do, I kept trying to guess the killer's identity and fit all the pieces together. I couldn't. And for a long time, neither can the detectives, who meet dead end after dead end on the murders.

Baldwin does a good job keeping us in suspense. Will McLeod and Farrell figure out who is the killer before another person dies? Or are they too late, and there's no way to stop the events that started long before the first page? The question pulses beneath the story-line.

DI Frank Farrell is a complex character. As an ex-priest, he struggles with his faith (or lack of it), seeming intent on punishing himself for the past and sabotaging his own future. Fortunately, his old friend Father Murray is there to give spiritual advice: hang on. I enjoyed these parts a great deal. Farrell's struggle with his faith reminded me a little bit of Ian Rankin's early novels, where John Rebus feels isolated and hears only silence when he prays. Here, though, it's more fleshed out.

I also enjoyed the other characters, particularly DI Kate Moore. Her grief and stress take a toll on her body, and she reminded me of myself when I had an eating disorder in college. I don't know if Baldwin intended to portray Moore this way, but the character's self-destructive coping methods resonated with me.

There were a few things that distracted me.

Sometimes I wasn't completely convinced by some of the suspects' behavior. Without spoilers, it's hard to explain. But on rare occasions, the attorneys don't display as much canniness as I'd expect; and on some equally rare occasions, certain police seem unrealistic. It's rare, as I said. It might be realistic, though: no one performs at the peak of one's abilities all the time, especially not under stress. It did take me out of the story a little bit, though.

This is a nit-picky detail, but it bothered me, so I thought I'd mention it. Throughout the book, Frank Farrell is usually referred to by his last name (Farrell, DI Farrell) while Mhairi McLeod is usually referred by by her first name (Mhairi). As the point of view comes more-or-less equally from both characters, I found this curious. It felt like a power imbalance, with a professional name for the man and a more personal name for the woman. I doubt the author meant it this way! It's simply a little quibble on my part, one that stems from too many years of studying feminist literary theory. Sorry. Old habits die hard.

But Baldwin is excellent as she develops the relationship between Farrell and McLeod. They're partners and close friends. Both are terrific, well-developed characters. Both are still grieving from a previous case that left their friend in a comatose state. Ferrell, in particular, can't let go of his emotions and his character arc in this story is moving, realistic, and carefully written.

I thoroughly enjoyed Avenge the Dead and I recommend it to those who like police procedurals.

Note: This is number 3 in the DI Frank Farrell series. Though I have not read the first two books, I didn't have too much trouble following along. There's a previous case that is referenced a few times, but not enough to be off-putting or confusing for readers who haven't read books 1 & 2, and better yet, there's no spoilers.

3 1/2 stars, rounded up to 4. I would definitely read more books by Jackie Baldwin!

(Note: This review will appear on my blog as part of the #damppebblesblogtour on March 6, 2020.)

I would like to thank Netgalley and Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter for an advance copy of Avenge the Dead, the third novel to feature DI Frank Farrell.

When a prominent defence solicitor’s wife is murdered Frank, DS Mhairi McLeod and DC Dave Thomson are sent to Dumfries from their new base in Glasgow MIT to investigate. They are happy to reunite with their old team but less happy with the memories. Their job gets more complicated when the son of another defence solicitor is murdered.

I thoroughly enjoyed Avenge the Dead which is an engrossing read that held my attention throughout. The novel is told from the investigative point of view, mostly Frank’s, so the reader has the same clues as the team - not that it did me any good as I had no idea until the reveal which, to be fair, has a few previously unmentioned and unsuspected elements that put a whole new slant on things. Nevertheless I enjoyed the journey with various motives and suspects all playing their part and long hidden secrets coming back to bite. There’s never a dull moment. The plot should be taken as entertainment as realism definitely takes a back seat to excitement and events.

Their last case in Dumfries led to a colleague being seriously injured so none of the team is happy to be back. Frank especially has been heavily affected. He is a former priest and has lost his faith and tries to heal the hurt with alcohol. Asa result he is in danger of losing not just his way but his job. Mhairi is the one trying to hold him together. That sounds quite gloomy but despite a few relapses and some angry outbursts he seems to finding his way back by the end of the novel. There is even a hint of potential romance in the air so it’s quite positive.

Avenge the Dead is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

Book 3 in this fantastic series. I would recommend you read at least book 2 if you haven't already.

I love the characters in these books. Frank has his demons to fight and Mharie is one tough cookie.

The plot had me hooked from the first page and I raced through it.

Already looking forward to book 4.

Good story line with a few twists and turns. This is part of a series and I hadn't read the previous books. This meant much of the previous history was mentioned but not explained. Regardless you can read this as a standalone book.
Thanks for the ARC

This was another riveting foray into the world of DI Frank Farrell! From the first chapter, I could not put this novel down, staying up late to finish just to see what would come next.

Not only are these characters are complex, but the world around them so multi-dimensional that it is easy to get lost within the pages, trying to piece together the clues as they come. It is easy to see how much time and effort the author put into researching and putting together each layer to bring the reader a gripping novel with twists and turns that are surprising, to say the least.

Speaking to the characters, I enjoyed watching Frank and Mhairi as their friendship grew stronger - and I feel like Frank, in particular, had a strong arc throughout this entire story. Still reeling from the severe injuries and hospitalization of his friend Lind, when we first are reunited with the DI, he is lost more often than not in the depths of a bottle, forgetting important things and putting a strain on his friendship with Mhairi as she is forced to cover for him time and again. As someone who has struggled with their faith, I can easily relate to Frank and the anger he harbors. on that front.

I was a little concerned about how things would play out once they were forced to return to their old stomping grounds, but thankfully the author managed to walk that delicate line between focusing on the case and the key players there, as well as what was going on back at the station between Frank, Mhairi, and their former co-workers (some of whom have secrets of their own). As the murders started piling up, I found myself trying to not only figure out the clues as they were introduced, but paying careful attention to the suspects and interviews, trying to piece together who was behind everything - only to be shocked right along with everyone else when all was finally revealed.

I strongly believe this is a solid police/thriller/whodunit novel that will appeal to fans of all those genres. I would read more from this author.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

#AvengeTheDead #NetGalley
A good read with a shocking twist.
Four friends with dark secrets. One killer out for revenge.
DI Frank Farrell and DS McLeod are tasked with investigating the brutal murder of a defence solicitor’s wife in Dumfries.
Who's the killer? What is his motive? Read this book to know. I dont want to reveal much about this awesome suspense thriller.
Narration of the story is very good.
Thanks to NetGalley and One More Chapter for giving me an advanced copy of this book.

This is one well written absorbing book. I really had no idea who was behind it all.

I can’t quite remember what had gone on in the previous book regarding Lind, so maybe I’ll have to re-read it, and remind myself. Poor old Farrell is really struggling to cope, his drinking is getting worse and if it wasn’t for Mhairie keeping an eye on him, I think he’d have gone down the pan.

First of all the wife of a defence lawyer is killed, then a young boy is stabbed to death and more follow. Farrell and his team are trying their best to find out who has done it, but they are struggling, their only lead is something that happened years ago and the secrets of the past.

An excellent read, and I do hope Farrell and Mhairie get together, come on Jackie!!!

My thanks to Jackie and Netgalley for the ARC.

3 stars

DS Mhairi McLeod and DI Frank Farrell are called to assist in the investigation in a neighboring city of Dumfries. The wife of a solicitor has been murdered. The husband has an alibi, but it seems pretty weak.

However, Frank is still being eaten alive over the very serious wounding of a fellow officer a year earlier. He has become somewhat unreliable with Mhairi covering for him. Dumfries is where Frank and Mhairi are from and he is very reluctant to go back there.

Almost immediately they learn that the wife had a lover, another solicitor. Did the husband know? He says not. The poker players he was supposedly with the night his wife was killed were having a reunion of sorts for another solicitor who was murdered in a house fire some ten years earlier.

Another murder is committed. This time it is the almost adopted son of another of the small circle of solicitors. Is someone out for revenge against these guys? Is it a mere coincidence? Then another! The press is going crazy – as are the police. Frank doesn't know how long he can keep up this pace. They have a possible suspect for the second killing, but they couldn't have done them all, could they?

Suddenly the team is innundated with informantion and clues.

This is a well written and enjoyable novel. I didn't like the way Frank had descended into a drunken stupor much of the time. I thought it was unbecoming of him. He was so irritable and unforgiving which I also found unsettling. This is perhaps my least favorite Jackie Baldwin book. The ending seemed a little forced as thought the author wasn't quite sure how to wrap it up. The interesting writing and the relationships between the other cops saved the book for me. It was interesting to see Frank and Mhairi trek back to Dumfries.

I want to thank NetGalley and HarperCollins UK/One More Chapter for forwarding to me a copy of this interesting book for me to read, enjoy and review.

3rd in the D I Farrell series that starts with a very brutal murder but farrell is still troubled following his last case and cannot be relied on.I have enjoyed reading this book as it had me gripped from the start.5*

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

2.5* rounded down.

This didn't work for me, despite having a reasonable plot and moving along at a brisk pace. It is the third in a series, and the main characters, police officers Frank and Mhairi, are sent to Dumfries (from Glasgow) to help out with a murder investigation. This is a home-coming for them, Dumfries being where "things happened" in previous books. They are also reunited with other police officers who clearly also featured earlier in the series. There were a lot of detectives to keep on top of, plus four or five lawyers, whom I could only keep straight by trying to remember which wife went with their name.

I almost gave up on the novel a chapter or so in when, on being told they are being sent to Dumfries, Mhairi and Frank pack up their cats (I kid you not) and take them with them. The writing was simple but grammatical and yet I found myself skimming. It all felt a bit superficial somehow. The conclusion was satisfactory, I suppose, although a little extreme.

Not for me, but I can see others might enjoy it.

I've waited ages for the 3rd instalment in Jackie Baldwin's D.I. Farrell series and boy was it worth the wait. A cracking prologue pulled me straight into the plot and gave me that killer hook opening I crave.
While this is the 3rd in the series, in terms of the storyline it can be read as a stand-alone however it makes sense to read from the beginning to allow yourself the chance to build a knowledge and connection with each of the characters.
After reading this, I’m not sure I’d want to be in the legal profession in Dumfries as there is someone out there with a grudge! However this is no easy to guess whodunit believe you me. With a sterling cast of characters and some very unreliable narrators this one will keep you guessing all the way to the very end.
It kicks off with a pretty brutal murder and it demands you sit up and take notice; it sets the tone of what’s to come: suspense, fear and intrigue all poured into 400 tension filled pages!
DI Frank Farrell is still struggling with events from the last case and he's becoming increasingly unreliable. When he, DS McLeod and DC Thomson are sent to Dumfries to form a murder investigation team, Frank is pretty shaken up at returning to the past he is so desperately trying to escape. Avenge the Dead highlights some of the current frustrations of Police Scotland framework and it is most certainly a relevant and topical read.
Frank hasn't got over the incident two years ago leaving his former boss, DCI John Lind in a coma. He's lost his motivation and is devastated when he's told he's heading back to Dumfries, he doesn't know if he can revisit the place where everything happened. Things are made worse when he discovers Lind's wife has moved on while Frank is most definitely trapped in his past.
Watching him wrestle with his emotions and guilt over his faith was painful and the author painted a perfect picture of a man struggling with his emotions; a man teetering on the edge of self-destruction. Frank is one of those characters you can't help but warm to, he's unique in crime fiction as he came from the Priesthood to the force, and he’s swapped his devotion from God to alcohol and is determined to punish himself. My heart went out to him. He's a deep man and you really get a sense of what's going on in his head
He and McLeod are like an old married couple at times, niggling away at each other but underneath there is a mutual respect and friendship. I really warm to Mhari’s character, she's like the glue that holds the team together at times and she certainly has her work cut out here.

The investigation centres around the murder of a local solicitor, Gina Campbell, and Jackie Baldwin's own background as a criminal lawyer comes to the fore here as she has the court scenes and the lawyers characters down to a T. Making for an authentic read. Soon links to a past death are uncovered and suddenly things don't seem quite as straightforward as Farrell and the team first thought. Soon there are a team of local defence lawyers suddenly afraid for themselves and their families. Past and present collide as the tension ramps up for all involved. Bullying, corruption and organised crime all play a part in this cleverly complex but satisfying police procedural.
Jackie has created a fabulous cast of characters, I honestly did not know who to trust or not. Loads of little red herrings swimming about the pages. Sheriff Robert Granger deserves a special mention for being a dick! And I did wonder if Jackie had based any of her characters on those she met in her previous role!
Despite the grim nature of the book, there is a sense of comfort and warmth from being around these characters, it's like they are real and I would want that team on my side if anything happened to me.
It was expertly plotted, I was completely engrossed in the investigation and the lives of the characters, there were twists and turns all the way through keeping me on the edge of my seat. A very real sense of place put me at the heart of the story.
Jackie Baldwin has a fresh voice in her lead detective, a unique spin on the damaged detective which married with her own background in the legal profession makes for a dark, intriguing and most definitely satisfying read. Clever plotting and carefully executed, Avenge the Death was one of those books that once you pick it up, you just can't put it down, definitely a "just one more chapter" and read past your bedtime kind of read!

this review will be on my blog as part of the 2020 Blog tour