A fast paced thriller that kept me reading and kept me guessing. DI Nash thinks moving from London to Yorkshire will lead to a quieter life but alas two dead bodies put paid to that idea. Full of twists and turns this book will keep you on your toes as well as on the edge of your seat. Love the characters and the way the book is written. Also love that it is part of a series. I have not read them all but will be searching my library for the ones I don't have or haven't read.

Thank you NetGalley and Joffe Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

DI Nash has lots of crimes to investigate! Murders, theft, burglary, shootings, fires. It becomes clear as the cases develop that there are some connections...
Dead or Alive is the 18th book in the Mike Nash series of police procedurals set in Yorkshire. There are no spoilers about previous books in the series.
A fire in an abandoned building reveals two bodies. A released prisoner is on the run, being chased by an assassin. Car thefts and faked deaths complete the complex web of crimes that Mike and his team have to investigate.
I enjoyed the easy to read narrative style and the banter between the police characters. All the crimes seem separate to start with which was a little confusing but then Mike starts to see a link. The book is quite short but feels authentic as the police have good work-life balance (Mike even has a couple of days off but this doesn't interfere with the case unlike so many TV dramas).
Dead or Alive is an entertaining police procedural.

Here is my review for Dead Or Alive by Bill Kitson

This seems to be a very intriguing crime read which I enjoyed immensely although I’m new to DI Mike Nash and the series. I got into the story as soon as I started reading it and found it very difficult to put down as I wanted to know what happened next. The story started off with two dead bodies locked away in an old, disused mortuary. They were found after a fire destroyed the place so badly, it had to be demolished. They were found in the basement of the hospital that had shut its doors approximately twenty years ago. This certainly turned out to be an interesting story and plot which I enjoyed reading. The characters had been well thought out and worked well with the story. The story was written extremely well and well thought out by the author. I liked the writing style of the author and the story was easy to get into. The synopsis drew me to read this story and I wasn’t disappointed. It was a terrific storyline. I really enjoyed meeting DI Mike Nash for the first time although this is book eighteen of the series. I would like to read the previous books but this may take me sometime to do but in the meantime I look forward to the next book of DI Mike Nash in this series.

Blurb :

Detective Mike Nash thought that moving back to Yorkshire from London would give him a quieter life. Instead he finds a sleepy little town where nothing is what it seems . . .

Two dead bodies, locked in a disused mortuary. In the basement of a hospital that shut its doors over twenty years ago. The irony isn’t lost on veteran DI Mike Nash.

The victims have been shot in the head, execution style — by a consummate professional who leaves no evidence and no solid leads for Nash to go on.

The deeper Nash digs, the more he realizes the bodies are tied to a past case that haunts him to this very day.

It’s not long before a third body surfaces. This time the scene’s awash with DNA, belonging to a man who died decades ago.

Now Nash must face the chilling possibility that his oldest adversary is behind it all, watching and waiting to take his own brand of deadly vengeance . . .

Discover the utterly stunning new thriller in Bill Kitson’s bestselling series, starring grumpy but loveable Detective Mike Nash.

New Review - Dead Or Alive by Bill Kitson

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Dead Or Alive by @billkitsonauthor is the 18th book in the DI Mike Nash series. I hadn't realised this when I initially requested this book on @netgalley, however after reading I can say that I don't think that this affects how the book reads. Although it has massively made me want to go back to the beginning of the series and read them all.

This thriller focuses on DI Nash who thinks that moving from London to Yorkshire will lead to a quieter life. Two dead bodies are discovered in a disused mortuary and it soon becomes apparent not all is as it seems as the two victims have been executed.

This is a fast paced page turning thriller with twists and turns in abundance. There are several story lines occurring at the same time and it leads to a really intriguing story which comes together as the threads are pulled. Would really recommend if you enjoy thrillers which are intricate and surprising. This book is out now!

Thanks to @joffebooks and @billkitsonauthor for letting me read this book through @netgalley.

#deadoralive #netgalley #netgalleyreview #newreview #newbook #review #read #readingtime #thrillerbooks #thriller #mystery #bookworm #booklover #bookstagram #newrelease

Mike Nash and team are back with new murders, execution style, that lead back to a whole series from Mike's past. Team work well together, love 'Mexican Pete's dry humour'. Hard to believe this is #18 as the cases are as fresh as at the start. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

Loved the cover and loved the solid and twisty novel. A solid mystery, excellent storytelling
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

A staged murder and the discovery of two corpses in the mortuary of a former hospital lead back to a ruthless gang leader and a spate of historical unsolved executions. Soon pathologist Mexican Pete is up to his knees in bodies, thanks to the new cases being investigated by DI Mike Nash and his team of DS Clara Mironova, DC Viv Pearce and DC Adil Hassan (DC Lisa Andrews still being away on maternity leave) at Helmsdale CID in Yorkshire, as a hitman gets hit and an old face emerges with another staggering link to the cases where the dead just won’t stay dead. But who is the mastermind behind all these baffling crimes and will the detectives ever find enough evidence to pin him down?
There are some great additional side plots, some relevant to the main one and some self-contained, in this excellent solid yet twisty police procedural mixed with plenty of warmth and humour. It features a very likeable team of detectives and officers all bringing their own individual skills to the investigation. I loved the witty repartee between the characters especially that of Nash with both Clara and Mexican Pete. It was thoroughly enjoyable from start to the very satisfying ending and I’d recommend the entire series.

Another great book in this series. The best part of these books are the team. They are a likeable group of police officers whose family lives are nicely intertwined into the story. In this one we have a lot of murders and burglaries car thefts and every other crime you can image all with the same top man simply known as the keeper. Its a great read but it does bounce about a bit from different peoples view point and this can take a bit to get used to and to keep up with who's view point you are seeing at any one time. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book was really enjoyable . Did keep you guessing as everything is linked . Well worth a read I will be reading more by Bill Kitson therefore sure .

As an ardent reader of British/UK police proceduals I don’t know how I’ve missed this author. Book 18 in the series was enjoyable as a stand alone, the characters were well developed and I didn’t feel that I was missing out on that much by not having the back stories provided by earlier books. The plot, with past and present crimes woven together kept me intrigued, the interaction between characters was well done, I was kept guessing until the end.
Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for the ARC that’s brought Bill Kitson to my attention. I’m looking forward to books 1-17, and to see where the author takes Mike Nash in future books.

How has this series reached book number 18 without being more well known? The characters and their back stories are fascinating and there is just enough detail to make you feel you know them without rehashing what has obviously been covered in previous books. The plot of this one stands alone and is a really strong mystery. I love this setting and ways enjoy it when an author has the talent to place the reader firmly in the context.

I’ve quite enjoyed the book, it started off well and I liked the various stories slowly coming together. For a book so far down a series, it didn’t lose much steam which is quite impressive. I did not feel invested in the main characters though hence the rating.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Joffe books who published it for the free copy in exchange for an ‘honest review’. I did not appreciate being contacted by the publisher however asking me not to review this book below 3 stars in the publishing week. It did not impact my review as the author is not to blame but it is of a significant concern to me.

I really enjoyed this book, it provided the range of characters, tension and plot development that I love in a god crime book. I am not sure how I haven't heard of this author before and am grateful to Netgalley for signposting this book to me. Number 18? I have plenty to go back and read now!

Complex investigative mystery weaving past and present - murder, corruption, betrayal, secrets, and layers of receipt thread together until the very end. The writing is straightforward with plenty of dialogue and context as well as some "daily" crimes and issues thrown in that flesh out the team. Great for detective mystery fans.

Eighteenth in this series featuring Detective Mike Nash. Fast paced and ever changing,good characters and an intriguing storyline.

Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for the eARC of this book, the 18th in the DI Mike Nash series by Bill Knox.

A fire in a rundown, vacant hospital leads to the discovery of not one, but two bodies. Both bear the hallmarks of a contract killer. In addition to a paid killer working on their patch, Mike's team are also dealing with a variety of thefts that have plagued the area.

It's an excellent series. Well written, fast paced, with likeable characters and a touch of humour to break up the action. It can be read as a stand alone, but the series is binge worthy, so here's a great series to start your summer reading.

Dead or Alive by Bill Kitson is a gripping entry in the crime thriller genre that hits the ground running and doesn’t let up. With an action-packed narrative and a pulse-pounding chase led by a determined team of detectives, Kitson crafts a high-stakes manhunt for a dangerously elusive couple.

The novel excels in both pace and plotting, with a storyline that steadily builds tension while keeping readers fully engaged. Kitson’s strength lies in his ability to balance plot-driven suspense with meaningful character development. The detectives at the heart of the story are not just procedural tools, but fully realized individuals with depth and humanity.

As the mystery unfolds, the stakes rise—and so does the reader’s investment. The sharp dialogue and well-timed reveals make for a thriller that is not only entertaining but intelligently crafted. Dead or Alive delivers on every front, making it a standout addition to the series and a promising indicator of what’s still to come.

First book I have read from this author. Looking forward to more from Mike Nash. It had plenty of suspense to keep me guessing. Great characters. Enjoyed the style of writing and the premise. All round great book. Look forward to the next one. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it

This was the best Bill Kitson book that I have ever read. Once you start a Bill Kitson book they are unbelievable difficult to put down and I had great difficulty in closing this one also until I reached the exciting conclusion. The author has published seventeen previous stories in the DI Mike Nash series and I understand he also writes historical fiction and lighter stories set in Greece under the pen-name 'William Gordon'. I will certainly look out for them in the future.
Two dead bodies, locked in a disused mortuary. In the basement of a hospital that shut its doors over twenty years ago. The irony isn’t lost on veteran DI Mike Nash.

The victims have been shot in the head, execution style — by a consummate professional who knows exactly how to cover their tracks, leaving no evidence and no solid leads for Nash to go on.

The deeper Nash digs, the more he fears the past will come back to bite him. These bodies are tied to a dark history of crime and betrayal, and a past case with more loose ends than Nash cares to remember.

It’s not long before a third body surfaces. This time the scene’s awash with DNA, belonging to a man who died decades ago.

Now Nash must face the chilling possibility that his oldest adversary is behind it all, watching and waiting to take his own brand of deadly vengeance . . .
I love the great repartee between the various detectives involved on the case which reminds me of the 87th Precinct stories of the late author Ed McBain. I also read books by Michael Connelly, but if anything Bill Kitson’s stories are if anything more exciting than those of the American author. This marvellous writer should release his books in paperback as well as hardcover and Kindle as his truly excellent writing skills should get the largest reading public possible. His books are always very carefully researched and have irresistible gripping plots, that seamlessly weave themes of multi-dimensional crime, with excellent character back stories.
I thought this was a fantastic story with superb characterisation and there is a quote from a review in the Scarborough Evening News on one of his previous stories back cover saying "Don't read it on a bus, as you'll miss your stop" which I thought was wonderful. I do not read on buses but I stayed up until 3.35am one night because I just could not put it down!
Very well recommended.
Complimentary copy provided by netgalley.com for honest review

"Dead Or Alive" is the 18th book in a series and ties up loose ends from a previous mystery, but it can be understood even if you haven't read any of the other books, but I highly recommend catch up as it has been a fantastic series.

Nash heads a team of detectives, investigating several murders and as usual another crime spate that is unrelated, but an interesting side line. I enjoyed the scenes from the point-of-view of the bad guys, as this gave you a few clues and links as to what is going on. There is the usual good, humoured banter between the team.

Just a small amount of bad language. Overall, another great addition to the series. Can’t wait for book 19. I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley and I am voluntarily leaving a review