Crossed Out

Having followed (and thoroughly enjoyed) the DCI Bennett series since it began, I was eagerly awaiting Book 6, and it didn’t disappoint. The author has a talent for creating intricate plots, credible characters, and twisted psychopaths! Above all, he has brought to life a compelling new detective, and in Crossed Out we learn more about Bennett’s background. I love the way each book in the series reveals a little more about him. This book, as usual, was well written and well researched. I would highly recommend this book, but would advise reading the series in order.

This is the first book I've read in the series, so I was a newbie to the characters and their relationships. In the afterword, the author mentions how vital it is to keep them evolving and it shows. Even knowing nothing about them, I could immediately see their strengths and weaknesses. There is a new character, April, who really stole my heart with her eagerness to help and great insights. Like me, she was just getting to know the dynamics of the team. Regarding the case, it was interesting and easy to follow, with the appropriate number of red herrings. The one thing I didn't like was the outcome of the investigation. I wish it would have turned out differently, but I guess that's the way it is with real cops. I won't say any more because I don't want to spoil anything. This is an entertaining novel and can be read as a stand-alone.

It was brilliant to find that the author was giving us an insight into Cyril and his past and it endeared him to me even more. He is a very straight no nonsense character but he also has a soft side and from the descriptions of his early life you can begin to understand why. Owen still has a major part to play in the investigations and a new character April has been introduced. I love Harrogate and the surrounding area as the setting for the books which are well written with much thought going into the plots. This is another crime thriller from Malcolm Hollingdrake that I can highly recommend

Great book. Brilliant storyline and excellent main characters. I would not hesitate to recommend this book.

This the sixth book in the DCI Bennett series and it is a gripping crime thriller with a well thought out plot.
Following the collapse of a house, into a sinkhole, a body is discovered.
An ex-con Gideon Fletcher, who apparently found god, is walking around Harrogate handing out leaflets with religious texts.
A series of old Remembrance Crosses start to turn up, each has a number marked on them.
As more bodies appear, along with the crosses, Bennett and his team are sure there is a connection, they just have to find it.
This is where April, a new girl on temporary secondment comes into her own. She has a vast knowledge of the bible which she brings to the investigation.
Is the killer punishing people or exacting revenge.
Cyril and his teams private lives are expanded and we learn more about Cyrils background and what makes him tick.
This is one of my favourite series and certainly Crossed Out is an excellent addition to it.
You won`t be disappointed if you read it as a standalone, however reading the series in order will give you so much more.
Thanks to Netgally and Bloodhound books for the opportunity to read this as an ARc.

The sixth instalment of the DCI Bennett series which I have been eagerly awaiting. I wasn’t disappointed, the brilliant police procedural gives a better insight into DCI Bennetts background and I enjoyed learning more about his past. The book, as usual, is brilliantly written with believable, three dimensional characters. I absolutely loved it and thoroughly recommend the book. A secure five stars!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for my advance copy in return for an honest review.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bloodhound Books for a review copy of Crossed Out, the sixth novel to feature DCI Cyril Bennett of the Harrogate police.

It's a busy time at Harrogate CID as the team deal with bones uncovered by a sinkhole in Ripon, a spate of remembrance crosses with dyed red hair attached to them and a murder. As they start to investigate they uncover more and more confusing links and clues.

I thoroughly enjoyed Crossed Out which has an interesting plot and an inviting style. The premise of the novel is excellent but I feel the author loses his way slightly in the execution. Much is made initially of the body in the sinkhole but the storyline just peters out without much resolution and there isn't much explanation of the motive behind the main plot. The journey to get there, however, is exhilarating and compulsive with some very interesting biblical references.

Much of the pleasure in reading this novel comes from the character of Cyril Bennett and the mild humour surrounding him. He has his foibles, like hating crumbs and mess, but he is a smart, effective detective and his current personal problems which give an insight into his formative years do not hinder his effectiveness.

Crossed Out is an easy read which I do not hesitate to recommend.

Crossed Out is a riveting addition to the DCI Bennett series. Although 6th in the series, this can easily be read as a stand alone.

When a house crumples into a sinkhole, Bennett and his team are called out to investigate when a body is found. They also find a number of old crosses, each one numbered.

DC April Richmond is introduced as a new team member and impresses them all with her knowledge of all things biblical. Due to her assistance, the team makes a remarkable discovery.

Bennett and the team find themselves wondering if the killer is exacting revenge or punishment and whatever the answer, they soon realize the clock is ticking.

Very suspenseful, this one kept me riveted to the pages until the very last sentence on the very last page. Also whetted my appetite to go back to the beginning of this series for a marathon reading.

The characters are interesting, and I would like to know a whole lot more of DCI Bennett, He seems to be a very private man, and I would love to see where he came from to get where he is now. The other characters are credible. The plot has been well thought out and written with a firm hand. Starting with a missing person, an acid attack, dead bodies .. well, put your seat belt on when reading this one.

Many thanks to the author / Bloodhound Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime thriller. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

Yet another fantastic read from Malcolm Hollingdrake. This latest Bennett book had me totally hooked, it was dark, dangerous and totally unputdownable. This is my favourite one in the series so far, its Hollingdrake at his best. A very good book that will have you captivated and leave you wanting more. Totally deserving of 5 stars!

I've read all of Malcolm Hollingdrakes books.
I always look forward to them as I know I am going to be reading a book I cant put down.
What I particularly like about these books are the characters. In each one we learn more about them.
In "Crossed Out" we are introduced to DC April Richmond. She seems to be a perfect addition to the team.
I love this series and look forward to the next.

Impeccably crafted

This is the 6th in the DCI Cyril Bennett series. Having not read any of the others I approached the task with a sense of dread as I felt I would be at a disadvantage. I needn’t have worried as it’s totally self-contained; but beware – these crime thrillers could well become addictive.

Bennett and his sidekick DS Owen and their team are called in when a body is found after a house part collapses into a sinkhole. Their investigations lead to some strange findings and more murders. Someone appears to be taking a high moral stance and exacting the ultimate penalty of those who do not live up to expectations.

The style of writing is superbly done as if each word has been specially chosen to achieve a specific objective. It is so finely crafted that it teeters on the edge of being pretentious at times but never actually crosses the line. I admired the author’s literary talent as much as the plot or the character descriptions.

The format reminded me of the style of many current TV dramas. The reader receives snapshots of apparently unrelated actions and is left to piece together the various parts and to draw his own conclusions as to what is happening and who is the perpetrator. The plot rattles along and the tension escalates steadily to an ending which is both exciting and satisfying.

I had the distinct feeling that the main characters will clearly already be old friends to those who know the series but they still came over to a new reader like me as vivid personalities in their own right. I recognised each character type and was able to relate to each which led me to be concerned for their safety and wellbeing. An author who is able to engender this type of rapport between fictional characters and the reader has a wonderful talent.

I enjoyed every page and will be reading the earlier books too.

mr zorg

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

The more that you read a series and the more you expect of the author to come up with something that will welcome you like an old friend and Malcolm Hollingdrake does just that. As each book comes along, this is book six, I have begun to recognise the little traits that make all of the characters individual and that is how it is with DCI Cyril Bennett and DS David Owen. I feel that I know a little more how their minds work as a team and on their own but we all have secrets and pasts, as each new book comes along it is as if a trust builds up between the characters and readers and little more is shared.

The story plummets straight into the bowels of the earth, as a sinkhole has partly devoured a house, leaving the occupants on the way to hospital and the search revealing a dead body that has been there for some time. While Bennett and Owen are looking into who the mysterious person can be, a number of remembrance crosses, are turning up with dyed real hair attached in plastic bags and each with an individual number. A further search reveals a murdered person not far from each one.

Previously in an earlier book, the death of a colleague hit the team really hard but now is the right time to introduce a very valuable new comer, DC April Richmond. Well I loved this lady straight away and what an asset she is. She brings with her a wealth of knowledge that cements her to this incredible team as if she had been with them years.

This is again a top class read and such a busy book that I just couldn’t being myself to put down at a spot that I could stop. A cracking team, a brilliant story line. I just love how Malcolm Hollingdrake pays attention to the smallest detail to make the story as close to real life as possible. There is always excellent research evident in his books. Highly recommended.

Firstly I have to admit that this is the first book in the DCI Bennett series that I have read, although it was great as a stand-alone book I think I am going to go back and read the first titles in this series as I loved it and what to find out more.
A house crumples into a sinkhole and a body is found so DCI Bennett and his team are called in to investigate. A number of small numbered crosses are also discovered, what are their meaning ?
The book is a fast based crime story with a religious theme that will keep you hooked. I loved the characters, especially DC April Richmond.
I would highly recommend this book and will definitely be reading the other books in the series.