So DS Nathan Cody has his second outing in his native Liverpool and this time he starts without his partner DC Megan Webley who is still recovering from a serious injury but fear not she soon returns. The murder Nathan Cody is investigating is a particularly gruesome one and one that has no obvious motive. Mary Cowper is a church going teacher who was killed while walking her dog by the Anglian Cathedral. No matter where they look they can’t see why anyone would want this woman dead, she’s as inoffensive as they come.
Meanwhile we learn all about the childhood of a young boy, a grim upbringing policed by a strict mother and God. I have to admit I’m always a little suspicious of excerpts from seemingly unrelated voices within crime fiction but David Jackson has his narrative spot on in this instance. It is fairly obvious that this is our killer but I couldn’t fit the childhood voice to any of the characters we were meeting, and nor could I separate the sad stories from the narrator which tell of a deeply anguished childhood, with the revulsion I felt over the killings of the women.
Hope to Die doesn’t just concentrate on the investigation which needless to say is soon expanded as another woman is found dead, we also get to understand a little more about Nathan Cody’s demons which haunted him in A Tapping at My Door and continue in this episode. When Megan Webley returns to work we also have the gaps between the two books filled in, with Megan understandably confused by Cody’s absence during her recovery but she’s the better person and extends the olive branch. The fact that the pair had a romantic liaison some time before Cody joined the team only serves the tension to crackle at times both at home and at work.
We have a new female addition to the team the data analyst, Grace, who is keen to show what she’s made of after a life-time of being ignored by her peers and I was pleased that DCI Blunt the no-nonsense, yet capable of compassion, a woman who is almost motherly in her dealings with Cody, is still in charge. All this gives not only a good ratio of both male and female police staff but a wide range of characters to give a good depth to the investigation.
The pace is fairly fast particularly with the switches between the odd things that are happening to Cody away from the investigation and the information that is leaking out about the suspects, even if none of them appear to have a motive, there are lies and half-truths to be uncovered. You don’t want to start this book just before bed-time that’s for sure because not only will you be unable to relinquish your hold on the book as one more chapter turns into two, three and onwards, but because David Jackson creates a world which feels particularly unsafe for the unassuming and then throws some particularly weird activities into the mix… like clowns!
With tension aplenty, some relationship issues and an ending which will have you longing for the next book, this is not to be missed although I strongly suggest you read the first book in the series to get the most from the story arc. Hope to Die will be published on 6 April 2017 by Bonnier Zaffre who were kind enough to provide me with an advance review copy. This unbiased review is my thanks to them and the talented David Jackson.

This is the second of David Jackson's books featuring Nathan Cody and highly enjoyable it is too! The pace is fast and the twists and turns if the case are matched by the events unfolding in Codys private life where his personal demons seem to be coming perliously close to home.
I particularly love the descriptions if Liverpool being from the area myself and I would highly recommend this to anyone!

This is a good read, especially for those who enjoy detectives mixed in with their mystery/thriller genre. The main character is a bit macho, but also has been made aware of his humanity by a previous frightening and painful case, which the author throws hints about throughout the book. The ending isn't the nice, clean way I generally like a book to end, but perhaps cues readers up for the next book in this series....surely he won't leave us hanging!

4.75

Just a tiny something missing to make this a 5 star read. I read through the night to finish this. DS Nathan Cody is investigating the murders of several women. Simultaneously you learn a little about the PTSD he's experiencing due to being tortured and watching his partner killed by clowns that got away. Im going to read the book before this one because I want to find out what I missed.
The flashbacks of the abuse the little boy (serial killer) experienced definitely upset me. The things parents do to their own children. Smh. I felt very bad for the kid.
There were plenty of characters I enjoyed. Cody and DC Webley obviously have feelings they haven't expressed. Her having a fiance is unfortunate lol. I want to see what happens with her and Cody in books to come. I also suspect Grace can be a character to keep an eye on. Her ability to deal with computers isn't the only thing interesting about her.
David Jackson is a new author to me and I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this and give my opinion on it.

The second book to feature D S Nathan Cody and what a great read! Set in Liverpool, it follows on from events in "A tapping At My Door", which it is best to read first. This is very fast paced, great characterisation and well written. As for that ending! When is book three due for release? I will eagerly await it's publication. Many thanks to Net Galley and Zaffre for my copy. I reviewed on Goodreads.

It’s winter in Liverpool and the city is shocked when a woman is brutally attacked and murdered in the grounds of the world-renowned Anglican Cathedral. The victim, a local school teacher, seems to have led a perfect life… too perfect? This is the question DS Nathan Cody asks himself as he tries to unravel the motive behind what seems to be a completely unprovoked attack. Cody is also battling his own demons as an event from his past, once again, rears its ugly head, threatening his sanity. When the killer strikes again, the detective must try to hold it all together before more victims are found.

I was very late to the ‘Nathan Cody’ party, having only discovered David Jackson’s previous book, A Tapping at My Door, as a result of seeing so many bloggers rave about it. I, therefore, count myself lucky that I have not had to wait too long to read the sequel! Set, once again, in Liverpool, the author has used a mixture of real and fictional locations to create an atmospheric backdrop to a story about cold-blooded murder, childhood abuse and voyeurism. One location in particular, the entrance to St. James Cemetery (in the grounds of the Anglican Cathedral) evoked strong feelings for me personally, as I have passed through the tunnel on several occasions and each time have felt a feeling of uneasiness. After reading Hope to Die, those feelings will definitely be heightened! The title of the book is also very clever, Hope Street being the thoroughfare linking the two Liverpool cathedrals.

Hope to Die follows on from the previous book but it is not essential to have read it. It does, however, provide relevant information about the reason DC Webley is returning to work after a prolonged absence and also details the circumstances behind the PTSD that Cody is apparently suffering from. In this book, we see Cody becoming more and more on edge as events from earlier in his career come back to haunt him. These scenes are extremely well-written and, annoyingly, the author has left this particular story line hanging – ready to be picked up in the third book hopefully?! Without giving too much away, anyone with a clown phobia will be checking that their doors and windows are locked after reading this!

One of the things I really enjoyed about this book was that although we are dealing with a depraved killer, the author really has you sympathising with his plight as we discover his horrific upbringing. These interspersed chapters, written from the perspective of the killer as a young child, were incredibly emotional and, more than anything, I was willing someone to rescue him from his living nightmare. This was completely at odds with the rest of the book, where I hoped Cody would end his killing spree as quickly as possible!

Hope to Die is a well-written, action-packed book that you will not want to put down. A must read!

I really enjoyed the first in the Nathan Cody series 'A Tapping at my Door', so was really excited to read this second one. If anything, I think this one is even better! Cody and his colleagues are investigating the brutal murders of 3 women in Liverpool. I really like the way the author includes chapters narrated by the person who is clearly the killer describing an horrific upbringing, giving an insight in to why that person may have turned to murder. At the same time , Cody's own back story develops a bit more, though is left tantalising the reader right at the end, and leaving us longing for the next instalment! This is a brilliant story, though not for the faint hearted! Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.

On a cold Saturday night in Liverpool a woman is walking her dog by the cathedral, seconds later she is dead, smashed over the head with a hammer. DS Nathan Cody is called in to investigate, at first glance it seems that the victim is perfect and has no enemies but the truth slowly comes to light. The following week another murder is committed outside the other cathedral, this time the victim is a prostitute, the following week a born again christian is murdered, what if anything could all the victims have in common?

This was an intriguing story involving the murders, the problems that DS Cody has in his own personal life, a complicated situation with one of his colleagues and the way he finally manages to find out who the killer is.

An excellent story which had me guessing right to the end. This is the first book I have read by David Jackson and I look forward to the next one featuring DS Cody,

Thoroughly enjoyed this book, it was a real page turner, I didn't want to put it down. I liked the characters and the story and it was very well written and I can see myself coming back to read more from this author.

Second enjoyable read in this series from David Jackson who mixes gruesome cases with damaged characters and just the right amount of humour.
The conclusion is possibly the best cliffhanger I've read this year.

I loved this book! It was SOOOO good. A killer is killing women and it seems it's because of their religious beliefs. Meanwhile, the author is letting us into the psyche of the killer. We are reading about the childhood of the killer. It starts when the killer is five years old and how the mother punishes him when he is a child. There is no maternal love there at all. The things this woman does to this child are unspeakable. The ridicule the child faces because of his mother. It's no wonder he grows up to be a killer.

I will give you the warning that this is definitely one not to start at bedtime. Give yourself plenty of daytime to begin reading this one. The ending, when it comes, when definitely make you sit up and go "wow". I recommend this book to anyone who loves thrillers full of suspense. This one definitely has it going for it.

Thanks to Bonnier Zaffre for approving my request and to Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second novel featuring DS Nathan Cody. The first in the series was, “A Tapping at my Door,” and, like that book, this is also set in Liverpool. Following events in the first novel, in which DC Megan Webley was injured, we return in December, with Webley just about to return to work. Much of the same team are in place; including Detective Chief Inspector Blunt and ‘Footlong’ are joined by new characters, including computer expert Grace Meade.

The author obviously knows Liverpool well and the book begins with a murder in the grounds of the Anglican Cathedral. Victim, Mary Cowper, was a schoolteacher at a local school. She was very neat, very tidy, seemed much liked and respected and was extremely religious. In other words, she seems to be too good to be true, and Cody struggles with finding a motive for the murder.

As well as the murder investigation, we have the ongoing problems between Cody and Webley, as well as Cody’s emotional problems relating to a case a year earlier, in which he was tortured by men in clown masks. He has been receiving anonymous phone calls and now, whoever is at the end of the line, have begun to send more chilling messages.

As Christmas approaches, Cody, who is obviously suffering from PTSD and trying to hide it in order not to be downgraded to a desk job, struggles emotionally. Yet, we also have glimpses of the killer’s past and the reasons behind why they are now committing crimes. These parts, showing the results of a severely dysfunctional childhood, are extremely well done.

I would suggest that you read, “A Tapping at my Door,” before reading this book, as this does follow on from the first. However, this is an excellent series - very exciting and fast moving, but with a good depth of character and interesting back stories. I certainly look forward to reading more by the author and will follow this series if, hopefully, it continues. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.

Hope To Die is the second in the DS Nathan Cody series. A Tapping At My Door (which is the first) was my first introduction to this authors works and was one of my outstanding reads of 2016. I went on to read all of the authors books, which I loved, so you can imagine how much I have been dying for this one to be released.

I love Cody and wanted to give him a big hug for what he is having to go through. He has been through an horrendous time and it is very much with him every day. As much as he seems to be quite grounded in front of everyone else, he is in absolute turmoil inside and is constantly fighting his demons.
Due to Cody's past it would certainly be beneficial for readers to have read A Tapping At My Door before reading Hope To Die.

The story line of a woman who is a very respectable pillar of the community being murdered was really good. I was as flummoxed as the police to why this woman would be killed and there certainly seemed to be no reasoning for it which makes it so much harder for Cody.

Hope To Die is yet another gripping read that had me hooked from start to finish. With twists and turns that had me looking in the wrong direction, there was certainly some shocks in store that I was not expecting. This author knows how to mess with his readers minds whilst delivering a highly adrenaline fuelled read that leaves you having to catch your breath at the end.

My thanks to Bonnier Zaffre and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.

Vicious and suspenseful Hope to Die will keep readers on the edge of their seat. Great writing and character development this book is a complete winner from start to finish. Jackson does not disappoint in this follow up.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bonnier Zaffre for an advance copy of Hope To Die, the second Liverpool based police procedural to feature DS Nathan Cody.

Mary Cowper, a good Christian teacher, is murdered by a man with a hammer in the grounds of an Anglican church. Cody and the team can find no reason for the murder so their sense of foreboding increases when another woman is murdered in the same way in the grounds of a Catholic Church.

Hope To Die is a good read. The murder plot is fairly straightforward with one thing leading to another until they uncover the culprit. There are several chapters on the unnamed killer's childhood. Again, there is nothing particularly new in it, a mother's sadism wrapped up in religion. The strength of the novel lies in Cody and what is going on in his life. About a year before Cody and his partner were undercover when they were discovered and tortured by men in clown masks. His partner didn't make it and Cody lost 4 toes and some of his sanity. He obviously has PTSD but tries to hide it to keep his job. Now, however, he is being tortured psychologically, initially with silent night time calls, but it's escalating. This will be a theme that runs through the series as nothing is revealed or resolved in Hope To Die. I'm unsure about this running theme. It has got extremely tiresome in Chelsea Cain's and Peter James's novels but at the moment it is interesting.

The characterisation is all about Cody and the only other strong character is Megan Webley, his co-worker and former girlfriend. They have an interesting dynamic. I'll be interested to see how the new civilian analyst, Grace, works out as she seems unstable and has the potential to become a real bunny boiler.

Mr Jackson has a good writing style which makes the novel easy to read. I like the banter between the characters and the rubbish jokes and puns as it seems so everyday.

I enjoyed Hope To Die and have no hesitation in recommending it as a good read.

My review as posted on Goodreads:

Having just read the first book in the DS Nathan Cody series, called '
A Tapping at my Door', I was keen to read this, which is the second in the series.

Once again the setting is in Liverpool, once again the book starts with a gruesome murder.
Is the Anglican cathedral significant?
Is the Catholic cathedral significant? Once the body count rises.
I like the way David Jackson develops several of the police characters from the first book. Names such as DCI Stella Blunt, DC Megan Webley and 'Foot-long' appear again.

The character development is done in such a way that it won't matter if you missed the first book.

I really like the first book, I liked this even more.
The case is solved, eventually. Is everything what it seemed?....You'll need to read it to find out.

There is something of a cliff-hanger ending, which ensures that DS Cody will be appearing again soon. I for one will eagerly await the next case.

I give thanks to Netgalley and Zaffre, the publisher for a copy in exchange for this review.

Brilliant second episode in what promises to be an outstanding series. A brutal series of murders to be investigated by our seriously damaged hero with a ruined private life and dark forces lurking in the background make up for a violent tale of revenge and terror brought to a terrifying end with a mask on a bed leaving this reader wanting the next episode sooner rather than later. Superb!

Having read and thoroughly enjoyed the first in David Jackson's series set in Liverpool and featuring DS Nathan Cody, I was delighted to receive an advance copy of Hope To Die, and what a superb novel it is! Cody is a troubled and somewhat maverick cop who does not always do what he is expected to and there are fascinating demons in his life. His relationship with his colleague, a former girlfriend who almost died in a previous case, is difficult and adds an extra strand to the book. The case is intriguing from the start and the motive for the murder of three women baffles the cops until a surprising breakthrough enables Cody to solve the case. Engrossing.

David Jackson became one of my fan favorites with his first series following an Irish-American cop now he’s turned his attention across the pond to America’s mother country, don’t hate me for reminding you of your bio-mom.

First off, this is the second in his new series and you definitely need to have read the first in order to appreciate the characters and truly understand the context of the world they exist in.

Jackson writes superlative, descriptive imagery in his scenes when he describes what settings the characters are interacting with even turning nature itself into a character with human like emotions, sometimes the more scary ones.
He makes his crime scenes seem somehow beautiful and lyrical while reminding us of the monsters that went bump in the night scaring us into near seizures as we hid beneath a mountain of blankets on our beds. By the time you’re done reading this, all those nightmares you thought you outgrew will come roaring back; make sure you have a nightlight handy just in case you feel like sleeping.

His well-developed characters communicate with realistic sounding dialogue and witty banter between colleagues. I like that he included foreign characters so we got a more diverse sense of the people that live England. Examining the effects of PTSD as it stems from traumatic events on law enforcement who are trying to continue finding the monsters that terrorize us while battling their own was well done. The use of spirituality and God made for another layer of edginess over the story as he turned them into a behind the scenes character which kept affecting the story in unseen ways; the contrast between that and an Atheistic Detective was fun to watch as it played out because it was more of a partnership than a competition.

Jackson surely knows how to use red herrings because you think you’ll know how it’s going to end then he gut punches your self-esteem with a twist that doesn’t seem possible.

Be prepared to feel edgy until the next book hits because he really does leave you clinging to the edge of your seat with his work.

Oh David Jackson! Seriously. First of all NO with now making us wait for another in this series I really don't like waiting especially not when endings are so beautifully placed for when you think its done then ITS NOT DONE and then THINGS OCCUR. I can't say more because *spoilers*

This is beautifully constructed, brilliantly written and has an immersive and authentic sense of place, just like the first Nathan Cody novel which if you haven't read yet you probably should. First. Not that this can't be a standalone it could but just, no. Read A Tapping At my Door before you read this. You are welcome.

If you have phobia's by the way this author likes to play on them. It's all wonderfully plot related but I do sense that he has a random writing glee in playing on our darkest fears. It works too. **locks all the doors hides under duvet**

Anyway I'll be reviewing this properly rather than just telling the author off nearer to its April publication date. But highly recommended. Keep the lights on throughout the house though. Again you are welcome.

Excellent stuff.