This is the twelfth book In Ray Clark’s IMP… series featuring DI Stewart Gardener and DS Sean Reilly, set in and around Leeds. I have enjoyed each one.
In Improper, Clark’s detective is faced with his most challenging case yet. A young actress, Sonia Markham, is found dead in her luxury apartment by her flat-mate and best friend, Jodie Thomson. To all intents and purposes, it looks like and open and shut case: death by natural causes. However something doesn’t feel right and Gardener is determined to go with his gut feeling and keep the case open. Jodie points the DI’s interest in the direction of a well-known drug dealer. But does she have her own agenda? And if so, what? And who is the mystery man Sonia was seen kissing in a nightclub?
If you like police procedurals, Ray Clark’s series is for you. Perfectly plotted with great attention to detail, characterisation and backstory, DI Gardener’s meticulous investigation reveals far more than he and his colleagues could ever have expected – building to an explosive and chilling climax worthy of the best of thrillers!
Although a series, the books can be read as standalones. Published by The Book Folk and available from bookshops and Amazon .
Devil’s Dice by Roz Watkins is a great début novel with an interesting protagonist who doesn’t always follow the rules. Initially, it was a bit of a slow burner for me. The first couple of chapters didn’t grip me. But that might just have been my mood as a few more chapters in and I was totally engrossed by the plot and characters…
The way Ms Watkins handles her characters and their dilemmas is impressive. This is her first novel and it is executed with assurance and confidence, creating a powerful sense of foreboding – and supernatural – within the setting. The action (after those first few chapters) is fast paced and unrelenting as more than once Meg has to fight for her life as she strives to save others.