Best-selling author Helen H Durrant is the queen of unputdownable crime thrillers and she is back with a superb page-turner I read in one go: The Faceless Man.

Detectives Harry Lennox and Jess Wilde are back on the case and they find themselves immersed in a new investigation that will take them down many a dark and dangerous avenue. When a teenage boy is found murdered in the local park and then set alight to destroy the evidence, the detectives know that they’ve got their work cut out for them. With the teenager’s identity still shrouded in mystery and secrecy, Lennox and Wilde realize that finding out what the young lad was involved in and what drove the murderer to kill him in cold blood could lead them not just to the killer, but to untangling a twisted web spun by ruthless and dangerous criminals who will not let anyone or anything stand in their way. However, this investigation looks like it’s going to be full of shocks and surprises as when they finally discover the victim’s identity, they find his bedroom wall covered with photographs of victims of unsolved murders. Just what are Lennox and Wilde dealing with here?

The shocks and surprises don’t show any signs of abating as there are further images which come to light which only serve to make this mystery even more tangled and twisted. Three pictures are discovered which appear to point to the next three victims the killer has in his sights, but what is even stranger is the image of a faceless man, a blank cut-out with no features. Lennox and Wilde believe that this faceless man could lead them to solving this mystery, but they must work fast because time is not on their side – and the killer could strike at any second..

Will Lennox and Wilde find the murderer in time before more lives are lost? Or will Harry’s dangerous secret end up putting their investigation in jeopardy?

Helen H Durrant’s thrillers just keep getting better and better and when readers see her name on a book cover, they know that they are in for a white-knuckle rollercoaster ride and The Faceless Man is no different. A brilliant thriller that grips like a vise from the first page and keeps readers hooked until the early hours of the morning, The Faceless Man is a dark, disturbing and fast-paced mystery featuring two detectives who are nuanced, flawed and brilliantly drawn.

A first class crime thriller from a writer at the top of her game, Helen H Durrant’s The Faceless Man is simply fantastic.

This was the first read in this series for me and although I enjoyed I could tell there was snippets of details that I missed out on though not reading the first one which would have helped to understand the characters fully.

A dead teenage boy leads the detectives on a trail of deadly assassin.

Not everyone is who you think they are, a well thought out story that just kept on giving.

Love Helen's books and usually give 5* however awful as it sounds they have lost the edge of goriness which sounds weird I know but one of the things I loved about her books. I enjoy the relationships of the officers who work together and they always become memorable characters. I did like the way it ended and it tied everything neatly together in a way I didn't quite expect. Love to read more

This is book 2 in the new Lennox and Wilde series by Helen Durrant but they would work fine as stand alone although you may miss some of the back story to Harry Lennox if you haven't read book 1.

The story begins with a teenager, Dean, who has stumbled upon a murder list and decides to blackmail the murderer. It was never going to end well and it doesn't. As Harry and Jess start to investigate his murder they find that Dean was very meticulous and he has everything well documented and a wall of victims and potential suspects. So finding the killer should be easy shouldn't it? The problem is one of Dean's laptops and his mobile phone are missing. Harry and Jess are up against time to try to identify the killer and the faceless man before anyone else dies.

The team are up against a killer who is very organised and forensically aware, a lot of missing info and many secrets. Will they crack the case before it is too late?

This book grabs you from the very first page and doesn't let go. It is a very gripping story full of intrigue and plenty of shocks especially the ending. I devoured every page.

The characters are developing well and I love the mystery to Harry it adds another dimension to the book that has the reader pacing the floor waiting for the next installment.

A fantastic read I cant wait for the next book. Definitely 5 stars from me.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC, in exchange for an honest review.

The Faceless Man by Helen H. Durrant is the second instalment in the Detectives Lennox and Wilde series, although this is the first book I’ve read by the author.

After initially being quite gripped by the story, I found I lost interest when I guessed the identity of the killer quite early on in the book.

The characters are likeable, although lacking a little depth, and the mystery of Harry’s true identity does become monotonous. Maybe I should have read the first book in the series beforehand, which would have given me a better insight into their personalities/back stories.

Overall though, a good, well written, easy-read crime thriller.

This is Helen Durrant's latest offering in her new crime series featuring DI Harry Lennox and DS Jess Wilde set in a fictional northern town close to Manchester. Lennox is a man with secrets, as we learned from revelations made in the previous book, and Wilde wants to know more about him, he no longer lives in a camper van, and is now living with DC Colin Vance. The detectives find the dead body of a teenager in a boat in Cheetham Park, the victim turns out to be Dean Greenwood and when they arrive at his home, they have a shock in store in his bedroom. There is a display of potential victims of a serial killer, shown as a faceless man, how on earth could Dean have acquired this information? The police look for connections between the victims in their hunt for the killer. This is a dark and intense crime read, fast paced, tense, and with twists, a story of murder, blackmail and corruptions that will appeal to many fans of crime fiction. Many thanks to Joffe Books for an ARC.

2.5 stars

This is the second instalment in the Lennox and Wilde series. It can be read as a standalone, but it’s more enjoyable if you already know the characters from the first book. We follow the detectives in a new case involving a cold-blooded killer linked with the organized crime.

I liked the characters, especially Jess, though she can be a little bit annoying with her questions about Harry’s past. These are short books, and I enjoy following the investigation process from the POV of the two detectives, the plot moves fast and the author doesn’t waste time in unnecessary details.

My big issue with The Faceless Man is that I discovered who the killer was from the very first time the character is mentioned. Knowing the outcome so early on made it difficult for me to care about the story, it was very predictable. Besides, the “twist” is pretty similar to the one in the first book, so it’s even easier to see it coming.

I would recommend this book for people who are new to the genre and want something short and entertaining, without much graphic violence.

The Faceless Man by Helen Durrant is the second book in the new Lennox and Wilde series. These books work fine, as do most of Helen's books, as a standalone. As always with a series you just miss knowing some of Harry Lennox's back story. I always feel I need to know everything to gain a greater in depth knowledge to a great series, but this is a personal thing.
When teenager Dean discovers a murder list and makes the decision to blackmail the murderer you know this is not his best decision and it doesn't bode well for Dean.
Harry and Jess begin their investigation into Deans death they find that a laptop and mobile phone are both missing. They also realise that he has a wall of victims and possible killers, all neatly in place for them, without the missing laptop and phone they are up against it to find a killer known as the faceless man. A person who is very aware of not leaving evidence behind to identify them. The team are really feeling the pressure but can they root him out before he strikes again?
I always look forward to a new book from Helen and I am really enjoying this new series. The characters are coming along nicely with Harry being an intriguing character with all sorts of rumours flying around about him, hopefully we shall learn more about him in future instalments.
A gritty,action packed and definitely addictive book that has the shocks, twists and drama that we have come to expect when reading a Helen Durrant book! Exceptional author and an exceptional book too! Thanks to Joffe Books and NetGalley for the copy of the book.

Enjoyable but in my opinion not as gripping as some of Helen Durrants other work.. I found the plot a bit convoluted and I struggle to get really invested in the mystery of Harry's identity.

This is the second book in what I hope will be many of an excellent new series set in the northern town of Ryebridge near Manchester featuring DI Harry Lennox and DS Jess Wilde. In the first story various things came to light about Harry, his former postings, the death of his father and twin brother Paul, and his dealings with his former mentor Sandy Munroe and ruthless criminal Mungo Salton. Jess is still quietly trying to find out more about her partner, something he is reluctant to share. Harry is still a bit of an enigma but at least he has managed to find a flat share with DC Colin Vance and is no longer living in a campervan!! The detectives are called out to Cheetham Park where the body of a teenage boy has been found in a boat on the lake. He has received a single stab wound to his heart and the killer has made an attempt to burn his body, presumably to hide evidence. There is no id but a call from a worried mother worried soon identifies him as Dean Greenwood. Their neighbours tell of how two men were murdered in Galashiels while they were on holiday and Dean swears he has seen a man he recognizes from there lately. One look in his bedroom reveals a rather strange hobby. What he tells his mother is his college project is actually two boards, one containing details of unsolved murders and another which looks like Dean has identified three possible potential victims of the same killer. The only problem - one does not have a face! Could Dean have been on the track of a killer and tackled them, only to meet his death? As the detectives study the “deaths” board they look for a link between the victims and immediately see that one local girl was also killed in the same way as the two men in Scotland but struggle to make connections between the four local murders and the two in Scotland, apart form the fact they are all unsolved. If it is the same killer, then they are a clever one who evades detection and leaves no traces. However, one potential victim in the three pictures is easily found, this being social media “influencer” Lana Midani who is currently staying in Ryebridge’s Metropole Hotel for an interview and photo shoot. The detectives arrive just that bit too late to find her PA murdered instead. The thwarted killer is furious at receiving inaccurate information and has had to silence a witness. But the question is, where did Dean get his information about possible victims from and having found the man he thought was the killer, what sort of deal was he trying to make with him? And just how can the detectives find a man without a face to prevent more murders?
This is a smashing follow up to book one, very well written with an exciting plot and a thrilling ending with lots of clever twists along the way. We are beginning to get to know the pair of detectives very well, and Lennox’s intriguing past eventually gets revealed a little more. Will we ever know the truth about Harry? I suspect there will be far more to be revealed in future stories and I am eagerly looking forward to their next case. 5*

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. Great storyline, great characters and there was a lot of twists and turns along the way. Enjoyed it

Thiroughly enjoyed this second book in the Detective Harry Lennox series. An intriguing back story surrounds Harry Lennox, The murder of a young man leads to a tough investigation . A great read

3.5 stars, rounded up.

Thanks to NetGalley and Joffe Books for the ARC!

The Faceless Man is the first book I've read by Ms. Durrant (and I'm now looking forward to checking out her other series.) It begins with a teenage boy who is stabbed to death and set on fire ... which leads to a ride filled with murder, blackmail, drama, suspense, drugs, and twists and turns!! For the most part, I really enjoyed this book. (Even the "Is he or isn't he really Harry?" part.) The ending, however, felt rushed and left me feeling a bit dissatisfied. For example, Dean's teenage friend goes to the police for protection. She's utterly terrified, yet she still lies to the detectives about what the killer looks like. WHY?? If that was explained, I totally missed it.

I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series!

A teenage boy is found stabbed to death in a park and his body has been set alight to try and conceal the evidence.
Harry Lennox & Jess Wilde get the case and what they discover in the teenagers bedroom leads them on the trail to find out who murdered the young lad.
Twists and turns throughout the book has you turning the pages to find out what happens next.
Great Read.

This is the second book in the DI Lennox and DS Jess Wilde series by author Helen H Durrant and unfortunately I wasn’t completely sold on it. I have read most of this authors books and love the other series she writes, Calladine and Bayliss, DI Greco, DCI Rachel King but this one didn’t leave me wanting more. I had much the same experience with the first book ‘The Guilty Man’ but sometimes it takes a while to get into a series. The story was decent but I failed to connect with the lead characters.

Teenager Dean Greenwood is found stabbed and DI Harry Lennox and DS Jess Wilde are given the case. When searching the family home they discover Dean’s wall is covered in the photos of other victims. The race is on to discover the killer before they strike again.

A decent crime novel but not the authors best work.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Joffe Books for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Thoroughly enjoyed the second book in Helen H Durrant’s Lennox and Wilde series. Harry Lennox continues to be a bit of an enigma and a few more details of his past are gradually being revealed. I am really looking forward to more books in this series .

The Faceless man is book 2 in the Lennox and Wilde detective series however it works well as a stand-alone novella. I have yet to read book one and I do feel it would give a better insight into the characters if I had, the plot and relationships were easy to follow and pick up on.

Harry Lennox is a seemingly quiet and simple character however there is an air of mystery surrounding him and his identity. I cannot wait to read further into the series in order to discover exactly what is going on. Harry is a great detective and such a lovely man. Jess Wilde took some getting used to. For the first half of the book I felt she was pushy and intrusive (I may have felt differently if I’d read the first book). About half way through though I began to realise how loyal she was to Harry and much she did actually care and to be honest – he needs someone a little more pushy with him to balance out his characteristics.

The plot was pacey and I think it could have been written as a full novel because there was certainly enough going on. Each chapter brought a new clue, reveal or dilemma and there was always something to keep me on my toes. It was such a tricky one to figure out and I had no idea.

A great crime novella with interesting protagonists and for me, a new series to follow.

I haven’t read the first book, so this was my first time ready about Harry & Jess. Obviously some things happened before this book so at times I didn’t know what had happened, but it didn’t cause me to dislike anything. Harry definitely has some secrets though, for which I’ll assume will be slowly revealed in upcoming books. This investigation starts off with a young man that is murdered & on his bedroom wall seems to be other murders that have happened or might happen. Now Harry & Jess need to figure out what the hell it’s all about. When another murder happens they rush against time to reveal who is behind them before another is gone. With so many witnesses lying it makes for a hard time for them. This was very fast paced and well written enough that I read it within a few hours. I will be looking out for the next book because I want to know what Harry is hiding.

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Harry and Jess who are detectives find a young kid murdered in a park. Near a boy they find pictures without a face. They believe they have a serial killer. This book kept me entertained

When a teenage boy is found stabbed and then set on fire, Detectives Harry Lennox and Jess Wilde go into overdrive.

When the boy is finally identified, they also discover that the boy's bedroom wall is filled with photos of victims of unsolved crimes. The more they investigate, the more they learn what the young man was involved in ... and none of it was good.

And his body is not the only one to fall.

It's a new serial killer on the loose ... or is it an assassin? And why is Lennox worried that his well-kept secret might be connected to these murders?

The intricate plot involves murder, blackmail, drugs. Action and suspense starts at the very first page and holds steady until the final unexpected conclusion. The characters are deftly drawn. Although 2nd in the series, this is easily read as a stand alone. However, I recommend reading them in order. The relationship between the detectives .. and the backstory .. is riveting.

Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books / Books n All Promotions / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.