Six Steps to Murder is the thirteenth book in the DCI Jack Harris series and my first introduction to John Dean.
What begins as the apparent death of a firefighter caught in a wildfire gradually develops into a much more complicated investigation. As new information comes to light, unexpected connections begin to emerge, with the idea of six steps linking people together providing an interesting foundation for the mystery.
I enjoyed John Dean's writing style and appreciated the way the different strands of the investigation were gradually brought together. There were also occasional moments of humour within the police dialogue that provided a welcome contrast to the darker aspects of the story. Some of the detailed accounts of previous violent crimes made for uncomfortable reading, with descriptions that I found unsettling despite the violence taking place off the page.
However, I struggled with the number of police officers, their ranks and the references to their individual histories. As a newcomer to the series, I found it difficult to keep track of everyone and eventually concentrated more on the investigation itself than the people involved. I suspect readers familiar with the earlier books may find this aspect easier to follow.
While I could appreciate the complexity of the investigation and the way the various connections were eventually revealed, I never felt completely drawn into the mystery. I do think there is much to appreciate in John Dean's storytelling, and this experience has left me wondering whether starting with the first book and getting to know the characters gradually might have made a difference.
An intricately plotted crime thriller that I suspect will particularly appeal to readers already familiar with DCI Jack Harris and his team.