Thank you to Net Galley, the publishers and the author for an ARC copy of Don't Scream.

My first book by this author, and the third in a series of Detective Jeff Rickman.

Detective Rickman can't take his eyes off her body. There is so much blood. A lacing of fine cuts: parallel lines, curls, sunbursts, whorls and geometric patterns.

‘The baby?’ he asks. ‘Is the baby all right?’

At six-foot-four Detective Chief Inspector Jeff Rickman is an imposing figure. He has the appearance of being a bruiser in a suit, thanks to his crooked nose (broken in childhood and badly reset) and assorted scars, one of which bisects his right eyebrow. He wears his chestnut-brown hair short, and anyone seeing him for the first time might mistake him for a tough nut. He’s handy enough with his fists to face down hard men, but women still feel safe in his presence.

Detective Constable Naomi Hart is known for her cool Scandinavian looks. She wears her ‘almost white-blonde’ hair in a twist, accentuating the length and curve of her neck. Rickman is devoted to his partner and would never stray, but he does notice the men on his team noticing her. She is aloof from it all; there’s an air of a mystery about her and she likes it that way. Very much her own woman, Hart is ambitious, and can play the political game, willing to weigh up the costs against gains of working with people she really doesn’t like. In the interview room, she shows poise and control. She has a ready wit and a good sense of timing.

While Rickman is front and centre of this investigation, it's one of his team that makes it personal for all of them. Foster having been in foster homes when he was young, he knows the boyfriend they are all looking for .. he was also in the same homes and they became friends. He is adamant that his friend could not have hurt anyone, much less murder the mother of his baby daughter in such a manner.

What I find is a crime police thriller, with good characters, but a heavy and confusing plot, making the story a little slow and heavy going. 

Not quite as an exciting build up as expected. But okay

Three stars. Okay, but slow.

Can be read as a standalone, as I have as the author carefully explains details of the first two books.

This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher.  This is my own honest voluntary review.

DCI Rickman and team investigate the murder of 17 year Jasmine, who was subject to a thousand cuts.  But no one knows where her newborn baby is.
Quite a slow start but the story did pick up.

Number 3 in the Inspector Rickman series and what a thriling read

Skmeone is preying on young women and when a teenage mother is found murdered and her baby missing it becomes evident that there is more to the crimes than meets the eye

A race starts to find the missing child and stop the killer in his tracks

Don't Scream is the 3rd book in the Detective Jeff Rickman series but the first one in the series and overall the second book I have read by Margaret Murphy.  One thing I can say for certain about the author's writing style is that she does not sugar coat--neither the crime or the violence of it nor the characters that are part of the plotline (both the good and the bad guys). Like the previous book I read of hers, even this one is an edgy and gritty police procedural. The description of the sadistic nature of the crimes committed is raw, brutal and disturbing which left me overwhelmed and the impact is felt more when the victims are a down on their luck and vulnerable young couple and their baby. 

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Joffe Books and the author for the e-Arc of the book. I think Margaret Murphy is an author I will definitely be reading more of in the future. 

The book was published on 8th December 2020.

This was the first book that I have read in this series, but it was exciting. It had twists which enabled the characters to interact with each other

Don’t Scream by Margaret Murphy is the third entry in the Detective Chief Inspector Rickman series but reads well as a standalone. DCI Rickman and his partner Detective Constable Hart are at the scene of the brutal murder of a teenage mother and her baby is missing. It soon becomes apparent that a serial killer is preying on young women. This is an enthralling police procedural  that transports the reader into an investigation like no other, with a team of detectives dedicated to finding a baby and a cruel killer. This will take them to a home for neglected and abandoned children, to an organized crime boss and his thugs looking for his stolen money and drugs, and to office politics among senior members of the police force, etc. Margaret Murphy is a skilled writer of thrillers and her novels never disappoint. Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys a challenging mystery that leaves you wanting more. Thank you to Joffe Books, NetGalley and the author for the e-ARC  in exchange for an honest review.

Normally I read a book and then review within a day or so. With life/Christmas/New Year it's been a couple of weeks and, I'm sorry to say, I can barely remember what went on. So not a good start - it didn't grab me enough. I do remember the main characters - Rickman and Hart, they're ok; there was a bloody murder of a young woman, her missing baby and a druggie boyfriend and essentially drug baron wars in Liverpool. It was an ok read but not one I'd go back to. Thanks to NetGalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Don't Scream by Margaret Murphy is the first book I have read by this author. Even though it was the third book in the Detective Jeff Rickman series, I found it very easy to follow and get into, this book. This series is set in set in Edge Hill, Liverpool, and opens with a major drug deal taking place between crime Lord Rob Maitland and his Dutch supplier. As all the holdalls of the product and the cash are about to be exchanged, Merseyside Police’s Operation swings into action. Shots are fired, everyone takes cover.........

The next day DCI Jeff Rickman and DS Lee Foster has been called to a horrific murder scene. Jasmine Elliott has been raped and suffered hundreds of cuts, and is bleeding to death. Her new born baby is missing. 

The prime suspect is her junkie boyfriend but he is missing too. WoW............

Time is ticking to find the newborn baby and her Junkie boyfriend. 

This book is full of twists and turns throughout that will have you hooked within a few pages, I will be reading more of Margaret Murphy's books in the future. Excellent read.

Big Thank you to Joffre Books and Netgalley for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

A brilliant read, full of suspense and action. Lits of fabulous characters, I only wish I had read the previous two books in the series to know the personal back stories. However, this doesn't mean this book cannot be read as a stand alone.

My first encounter with the Jeff Rickman series by Margaret Murphy. Although this was number three, hopefully I can catch up with one and two. A gripping story, proper crime thriller with lots of twists and turns with under lying stories involving Jeff Rickman and his team, a fascinating read.

Amazing story. Well developed characters that are in a twisted engrossing thriller. Highly recommended. Super suspense that comes to a satisfying end! Highly recommended . A true roller coaster thrill ride

Don’t Scream by Margaret Murphy
Detective Jeff Rickman #3

A bad drug bust
Young man on the run
Teenage girl brutally murdered
Her baby missing

Serial killer on the loose
Drug lord wants his drugs & money back
Do they overlap
These bad men?

Police on the job 
Some good and some not so much
Personal lives come into play
But will they get the job done? 

Brutal dark and gritty murders
Police procedural elements strong
Character development excellent
No trouble following though haven’t read first two books

Mixed feelings but all in all an okay read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe for the ARC – This is my honest review. 

3-4 Stars

The book opens with a major drug deal taking place between crime lord Rob Maitland and his Dutch supplier. As holdalls of the product and cash are about to be exchanged, Merseyside Police’s Operation Snowplough swings into action. Shots are fired and everyone scrambles to avoid being killed or arrested. Mark Davis, drug addict and Maitland’s employee, sees his chance and flees with two bags. In his imagination, he can see Jasmine Elliott, his ex-girlfriend and mother of his baby daughter Bryony, welcoming him with open arms and letting him provide for them. It will need to be a good plan since Maitland will never stop hunting him after this and the former armed robber turned drugs boss will be certain to reassert himself in Liverpool before his rivals try to move in. The following day sees DCI Jeff Rickman and DS Lee Foster called to the scene of a horrific murder. Jasmine Elliott has been raped and suffered hundreds of cuts, bleeding to death. Her baby is missing and a witness has seen a man racing from the scene who is soon identified as Mark. They learn the seventeen year old victim was a drug addict who was trying to turn her life around despite having no help from family. Detectives ponder what could be the motive for such a tortuous death and who is her mysterious friend Kim? Rickman, Foster and DC Naomi Hart are assigned to the case, being joined quickly by DC Chris Tunstall. Since most of CID are still mopping up the remnants of Operation Snowplough under the command of DI Dwight and the obnoxious DS Daniel Cass, they will be a small team initially until they can receive some more support staff.  The last year has been particularly turbulent for Rickman, with the murder of his partner then reuniting with brother Simon after twenty five years only for Simon to have an accident leaving him an amnesiac who now has no intention of returning to his wife and two teenage sons in Italy where they ran their leather business. Now Simon only has Rickman to depend on. Mark Davis is known to Foster who grew up in Black Wood Children’s Home under the care of Ed and Hilary Shepherd. Twenty year old Mark was also a resident there and was mentored by Foster. The mention of Mark brings back a lot of memories for Foster who finds it hard to believe Mark was involved in murder. Meanwhile Mark is driving around aimlessly trying to rid himself of the blood he is covered with and looking for a safe place to take his daughter, but is he really guilty of murder? One thing is certain – the detectives need to find Mark and Bryony before anyone else does. Then the story takes a huge turn as the reader gets to hear from a very disturbing individual. As the case opens up, some very awful accusations are made and some very unsavoury truths start to emerge as the detectives continue their hunt for a killer.
The story has a complex plot with absolutely loads in it to keep the reader hooked right from the very start, especially having the little snippets from the killer along the way. It keeps up a furious pace with shocking turns and revelations along the way, and the ending is excellent with some surprises in store as the truth is finally laid bare. I very much liked the main detective characters and the great friendship between Rickman and Foster, although I would have liked to have known more about Tunstall and Hart outside of work. I think those particular still waters run very deep, and I am hoping we get to know more about the other detectives as the series progresses. This is a book I can highly recommend and I am looking forward to reading more from this author. 5*

"CAN THEY STOP A TWISTED SERIAL KILLER, WHO TURNS HIS VICTIMS LAST BREATH INTO A NIGHTMARE?"
That's the question facing our detective team after locating a gruesome discovery.
A young mother only 17 yo named Jasmine Eliot was found brutally killed by a '1000 cuts' using geometric patterns, intricate sunbursts, parallel lines, plus the weird yet revolting curls and whorls. 
Why?
What kind of nut job and serial killer would do such a thing much less take off with her newborn baby girl -Bryony?
It's an all out manhunt with nothing short of miraculous clues being followed piece by bloody piece.
It's not a job for the faint of heart and the Liverpool area is doing everything they can to help find the baby before it's too late.
A true -edge of your seat- thriller that will captivate all your senses!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.

This is my kind of book. Action, fast paced, twists, plausable and most importantly well written. This is the third book in the Detective Jeff Rickman series. If you are like me and have not read the first two books don't let that deter you. This is a great stand alone book and you will miss nothing by not having read the first two books. Not only that, but I am now going to seek out the first two books to read because I enjoyed this one so much.

Don't Scream by Margaret Murphy is the third book in the Detective Rickman series. I must say I was offered the ARC for this and jumped at the chance, although I haven't read the other two as yet, but have read other books by Margaret Murphy. So yes they can be read as standalones also. The only trouble is, as you read the story you find you have a need to read the previous ones so you can fill your own curiousity for the little details that are not overly important to this particular story but you just NEED to know anyway. So, be warned.
A young woman is discovered horrifically tortured and her new born baby is missing. The police have a main suspect, her junkie boyfriend, but he is nowhere to be seen either.
A story in which gangwarfare, drugs and trafficking are all involved. It makes for a very intriguing and suspenseful story. Then there are the twists and the red herring so skilfully placed within the story. These factors definitely kept me in my toes while reading along with the obvious bickering and clashes between the various police teams and officers involved in the case. 
Margaret Murphy does a good job drawing us in to the story with her characters too. Rickman is a great character who is such a dab hand at keeping his life compartmentalised. Seperating work and personal life is no trouble and he is such a professional at his job. His friend Lee Foster is part of the team also but we see him up against it in this book. How will he deal with it? That's for you to read and find out! 
Altogether a really interesting and entertaining story, one which has wh
et my appetite for books one and two. I hope we see more additions to the Detective Rickman books in the future. Thanks to Joffe books and netgalley for my copy of the book.

A botched drugs raid, a missing baby, a woman dead from a thousand cuts. These are the cases being investigated in Margaret Murphy’s latest novel. She is a first rate author, up there with likes of Rankin, Robinson and Cleeves. Her characters and narrative are top notch and he pace and setting wonderful.
Detective Rickman is working hard to find out what happened to Jasmine, the murdered girl and where her baby is. In the picture for the murder is Jasmines former partner Mark, the father of the baby and a drug addict. He is involved with Maitland, a drugs king controlling much of the trade in Liverpool.
When Mark and the baby are found dead, Rickman is more determined than ever to find those responsible.
I loved it.
#dontscream #netgalley

I loved the book! First book i've read by Margaret Murphy and it won't be the last. Keep me engrossed from beginning till the last page

I have a little confession to make.  Although I have a couple of Margaret’s books on my ever increasing ‘to be read’ pile, I haven’t read one yet.  When I was invited to take part in the blog tour for ‘Don’t Scream’ I thought that it would be the ideal opportunity to acquaint myself with Margaret’s work and get to know the lead character, Detective Jeff Rickman.  Having enjoyed reading ‘Don’t Scream’ as much as I did, I am now a tad annoyed with myself that I left it this long to discover the series.  I loved reading ‘Don’t Scream’ but more about that in a bit.
It took next to no time to get into this story.  I picked the book up only intending to read a couple of chapters but I became so wrapped up in the story that I read more like half a dozen chapters.  I was intrigued by the case that Rickman has to investigate and I felt compelled (in the nicest possible way) to keep reading to find out how the investigation concluded and what implications this had for the various characters.  The pages turned over at a fast pace as I worked my way through the story.  I liked the characters (or most of them anyway) and I especially loved the close knit friendship between Rickman and his sergeant.  
‘Don’t Scream’ is well written.  Margaret certainly knows how to grab your attention from the start and draw you into a fast paced, critical investigation.  From then on, the reader feels as though they are on one hell of a fast paced, scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with more twists and turns than you know what to do with.  That’s how I felt at any rate.  For me, ‘Don’t Scream’ was a tightly plotted story full of drama and intrigue.  I found ‘Don’t Scream’ to be a gripping read which kept my attention throughout, it kept me guessing and it kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Don’t Scream’ and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers.  I will certainly be reading more of Margaret’s work in the future.  The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.