I really enjoyed this book, just as much as I did the Lollypop Man.

Very well written, well paced and easy to read.

A second stunning book in series from Daniel Sellers!

Adrian Brown has moved on since his brush with The Lollipop Man; now in his second year at Leeds University, he is a typical student, enjoying socialising until, that is, a violent encounter with a man in a basement club rapidly sobers him up. Sheila Hargreaves has since written a book about The Lollipop Man and is now working on a tv show, Yorkshire CrimeTime when her colleague and co-presenter, Tony Tranter, goes missing. When he turns up dead with multiple stab wounds, Sheila considers if this could be related to the recent attacks on men and before long both she and Adrian find themselves on the trail of another killer . . .

In all fairness, I hadn't realised The Lollipop Man was the beginning of a series - but I absolutely loved it. This author is a master at ramping up the tension and, yet again, I find myself trying to slow down my reading so as not to miss any vital clues while, on the other hand, I want to race ahead and find out what happens next. Another stunning thriller and one I'm happy to recommend and give all five shiny stars!

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; huge apologies for the delay in posting this review.

A really good series and this second book with Sheila Hargreaves (TV personality who also co-presents a crime show) and Adrian – who is now a student at Leeds University. Sheila’s co-host Tony is found dead and it seems he had a murky past and a hidden life. His death could possibly be liked to violent deaths of other males and The Devil’s Smile brings Sheila and Adrian together again. Set in the 1990s, it runs at a good pace and reflects the attitudes of the day very well. An enjoyable read.

The second in the Yorkshire Killings series gives us The Devil's Smile. Like The Lollipop Man this book delves into the nightlife of Leeds. I'm a Yorkshire woman myself but know nothing about the pubs and clubs of Leeds. After reading this, I'm quite relieved about that.

The Devil's Smile reunites Adrian Brown, now in his second year at university, with local TV presenter, Sheila Hargreaves. This time they are on the hunt for a man targeting young gay men and Adrian has firsthand knowledge of the creep with the smile of a demon. Alongside this there is scandal galore as Tony Tranter, Sheila's co-host, goes missing leading to the discovery of the seedy underbelly of Yorkshire's "capital".

I enjoyed this book just as much as The Lollipop Man. Adrian and Sheila's characters are becoming more rounded and the action is equally divided between the two protagonists. The story is fast paced, easy to follow and local reporter, Jeanette, plays a vital part in proceedings again.

I'd suggest you read Lollipop Man before this but I don't think its essential. It would give you all the background you need on Adrian and Sheila's relationship whilst being a great thriller in its own right.

Looking forward to the next one.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Allison & Bushby for the advance review copy.

Book 2 of The Yorkshire Killings series is just as gripping and unsettling as the first. Set in October 1995, Sheila Hargreaves has published a successful account of The Lollipop Murders and now co-presents the TV show Yorkshire Crime Time. Meanwhile, student Adrian Brown—himself a survivor of a violent attack—begins exploring Leeds’ gay scene, constantly aware of the lurking dangers. Although Sheila and Adrian’s unlikely friendship began in Book 1, this story also works well as a standalone.

When Sheila’s colleague, TV presenter Tony Tranter, vanishes and is later found brutally murdered, the pool of suspects is wide. Sheila fears the killing may be connected to other recent attacks on men across the city. Determined to uncover the truth, she once again joins forces with Adrian—who may himself have crossed paths with a deadly predator.

This is a chilling, atmospheric murder mystery. While it takes a little time to draw you in, the tension steadily builds, making it well worth sticking with. The novel vividly portrays the darker, more dangerous side of the gay scene in the mid-1990s, shortly after the age of consent was lowered to 18. The identity of the killer remained cleverly concealed until the end, delivering a shocking twist. Dark, well-paced, and suspenseful—an excellent and enjoyable read.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Adrian falls victim to a brutal attack by a man he met in a nightclub. After running an article on murders of young men in the area, Sheila’s co-host on a local TV crime programme is found dead. After working together on the Lollipop Man, Adrian and Sheila are brought together again to try and uncover the truth. I enjoyed this sequel more than the Lollipop Man, I think because I already knew and could root for Adrian and Sheila. I enjoyed the subject matter of exploitation by the rich and powerful. A compelling thriller with lots of suspense.

The Devil’s Smile is a chilling and atmospheric mystery that blends creeping tension with a tightly woven investigation. Daniel Sellers delivers a story that is equal parts unsettling and addictive, pulling readers into a dark world where nothing is as simple as it seems. From the very start, the unsettling tone sets the stage for a case that is layered with questions, secrets, and unexpected turns.

At the heart of the story is the brutal death of a man, followed by a series of attacks that shake the community. The investigative team is thrown into a relentless search for answers, and Sellers does an excellent job of portraying the challenges, frustrations, and small victories that come with solving a case of this complexity. The detectives are not only skilled but also deeply human, and following their thought process and determination adds depth to the narrative.

What stands out most is how well the story balances its sinister elements with genuine intrigue. The creeping sense of unease lingers throughout, while the mystery itself remains unpredictable, keeping the reader engaged until the very end. Sellers crafts a story that feels both methodical and suspenseful, allowing the twists to unfold naturally without ever losing momentum.

Overall, The Devil’s Smile is a compelling read for fans of dark mysteries and police procedurals. It has atmosphere, a strong investigative core, and just enough eerie detail to leave you unsettled in the best way. This is a story that not only delivers on its premise but makes you want to keep turning pages late into the night.

The follow up to the brilliant Lollipop Man.

This time Adrian and Sheila are involved in what appear to be different cases. But are they?
I was hooked and flew through this book. I really look forward to reading more from this intriguing duo.

October, 1995. Adrian Brown's second year at Leeds University is a blur of throbbing bass line and neon-lit nights out. However, a violent encounter with a man he met in a basement club has the power to sober him up.

Sheila Hargreaves, who has grown fond of Adrian following their brush with the infamous Lollipop Man, has written a book about the murders and is busy with a new TV show, Yorkshire Crimetime. And then her erratic co-presenter Tony Tranter goes missing, and his body turns up riddled with stab wounds. Could his death be linked to several violent attacks on men?

Moving from dark city corners to the glare of the TV studio lights, Sheila and Adrian find themselves on the trail of another killer.

This is the second book in the Yorkshire killings series and I enjoyed it as much as its predecessor, The Lollipop man.

The central characters Adrian and Shelia along with their friendship are the main draw to this series for me along with the 90’s setting. It’s interesting to see how Policing was different 30 years ago.

A series of attacks on gay men and the disappearance of Shelia’s co host Tony Tranter may be linked to an attack on Adrian.

I love this detective duo and I can’t wait to read the next one.

Absolutely love this trio of investigators - a student, a journalist and a TV presenter. Set in 1995 Leeds, the writing is evocative of its time with many familiar places being part of the setting.
A series of attacks on gay men and the murder of a well known TV presenter throws up many issues for the investigative trio and the spiders web of clues brought together between the three make this a compelling read. Great characters, brilliant setting and a captivating story.
Second in the series but can be read as a stand alone, however, the first in the series is equally compelling so why not start there?

Second book in this series finds Adrian and Sheila, still recovering from their previous exploits, being caught up in not just another murder but one which leads them into a deeper, darker side of Leeds in the mid 1990's. I find it scary at times about how much we have forgotten about that time - for example - the infancy of mobile phones and the fact that you could only score 10 contacts on them ( that did bring a wry smile to my face !!) as well as the treatment of the LGBTQ+ community. Plenty of twists and turns in the story to keep you page turning and I didn't guess who wa sdoing what until the end ! Overall 4.5*

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC to review

The Devil's Smile by Daniel Sellers will keep you turning pages. An absolutely riveting thriller that keeps the reader hooked.
I really loved The Lollipop Man and was excited to read TDS. It was fast paced with lots of twists and turns which I did not see coming.
Its well written, twisty and gripping and I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

A really good sequel to the Lollipop man, set in 1995 it once again focuses on the main characters from the former book, Adrian Brown who is trying to move on from the horrors of the Lollipop man and is also dealing with his repressed sexuality and Sheila Hargreaves, Yorkshires Aunty and tv co host of Yorkshire Crime Time along with Tony Tranter who when he is found murdered might have a link to a man that attacked Adrian in a gay bar,
novel is well written but is a slow burner but it works quite well as a standalone

From neon-lit clubs to TV studio drama, this thriller blends suspense, sharp plotting, and a dash of nostalgia.

My thanks to Allison & Busby and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Devil’s Smile’, book 2 of the Yorkshire Killings written by Daniel Sellers, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

It’s October 1995 in Leeds when we meet up once again with Adrian Brown who’s in his second year at university and his fellow-sleuth Sheila Hargreaves of the Yorkshire Press.
The story starts with Adrian who, following a few pints in the local pub, has gone on to a night-club hoping to see Lee who he’s attracted to. While Lee pays him no attention another man, Edmund, won’t take no for an answer and buys Adrian a drink, takes him home and attacks him, only leaving when Adrian’s flat-mate and his girlfriend arrive home.

‘The Devil’s Smile’ has an ingenious plot and interesting characters. It was good to read more of Adrian and Sheila but the 1990s isn’t my favourite era to read about and the gay scene doesn’t really work for me. Added to that, the plot is so slow that at times it didn’t hold my interest and I found it difficult to keep turning. Pages. It’s well written and I did like it, but I didn’t love it as much as I’d hoped to. This is purely my own opinion and I’d recommend other readers to give it a try and make up their own minds.

Sheila and Adrian team up again when Troy, her cohost on a true crime show is murdered. It helps btw if you've read the Lollipop Man as this builds on the relationship established there as on Adrian the only one who survived an attack by the Lollipop man. This is a tour through 1990s Leeds and leans in on the dark side of abuse of gay men. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's a quick read that will leave you looking forward to the next one.

In 1995 Adrian Brown is in his second year at Leeds Uni when a meeting with a unsavoury man he met in a club brings him to his senses.

Adrian has already met Shelia Hargreaves , a television presenter, in the Lollipop Man case and when her co-presenter goes missing and ends up murdered they are drawn together again. Could the death be connected to the recent attacks on men?

Really enjoyed this one, perhaps as I had read others by this author. Although not an instant page turning classic, it does keeps you engrossed.

3.5 start rounded up

The Yorkshire Killings Series Book 2

October, 1995. Adrian Brown@s second year at Leeds University is a blur of throbbing bass line and neon-lit nights out. However, a violent encounter with a man he met in a basement club has the power to sober him up. Sheila Hargreaves who has grown forn of Adrian following her brush with The Lollipop Man, has written a book about the murders, and is busy with a new TV show, Yorkshire Crimetime. And then her erratic co-presenter, Tony Tranter, goes missing, and his body turns up riddled with stab wounds. Could his death be linked to several; violent attacks on men?

Tony Tranter has disappeared. Sheila Hargreaves now has a successful TV game show. Adrian is in his second year at university Adrian and Sheila makes an unexpected pair of amateur sleuths.

I would read The Lollipop Man before reading this well-written book. Adrian and Sheila thinks the two crimes could be connected. This is an easy book to read. It has some good twists.

Published 21st August 2025

I would like to thank #NetGalley #AllisonandBusby and the author #DanielSellers for my ARC of #TheDevilsSmile in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book a good mix of different ones I've read in recent times an engaging plot interesting characters and a good flow throughout the book