This is the eight novel in the series featuring DS Aector McAvoy and DI Trish Pharaoh of the Humberside Police. However this book starts with them working separate cases many miles apart. Pharaoh is on a hush-hush investigation into a death on the coast of Iceland. McAvoy, acting Inspector in her absence, is asked by a member of the public to check on an old lady who hasn't been seen for a number of days. He finds her encased in ice and this very quickly becomes a strange murder investigation, pulling in much of the history of the dying out fishing industry in Hull (in itself very interesting) which starts to look like it is digging up many long buried secrets. Whilst both detectives are unknowingly unearthing strands that are gradually drawing their two cases together, two mutilated dead bodies of former fishermen are discovered. McAvoy's boss, under local and political pressure, rules out a link to the old lady's death but McAvoy feels a connection and digs away until the whole story unravels leaving a gruesome and heart wrenching piece of history that a whole community thought had been buried. The author puts it so well - "half a century's worth of secrets and hidden bones". The plot is intricate and carries the reader along, giving out information slowly as the story progresses and makes sense of all the brutal killings that follow. McAvoy is a wonderful character and I can't recommend this book enough!

Cold Bones is the eighth novel to feature DS Aector McAvoy and DI Trish Pharaoh of Humberside Police, set in Hull. It is intricately plotted so requires the reader to pay full attention whilst reading, and the two-pronged investigation whereby McAvoy and Pharoah search for answers separately by each following different leads which could blow the case wide open is a refreshing concept. There is much made by the author of Hull's fishing industry and fishermen, and I actually learned some interesting information about it all; I certainly wasn't expecting that! There aren't any of the usually requisite twists and turns, red herrings and misdirection per se, but the information the police learn is introduced slowly, and eventually, the whole story unravels.

I found the decision to try a novel investigative approach by having the two partners operating independently of one another worked superbly, and I enjoyed the two different perspectives and thoughts each of them has of the case. We get to see how McAvoy and Pharaoh think whilst on their own. That said, I did miss the banter which usually goes on between them, and they indeed make an impressive and pretty successful pairing. Each of the books in this series can be a read as standalones, but in order to understand the crucial relationships and the recurring players, it is most beneficial to read from the very beginning. It's a dark, intense and gripping tale of revenge and sacrifice and with characters that sing from each page.

Many thanks to Mulholland Books for an ARC.

I have only read one other book in this series and I really liked it as well. This is a really good gritty thriller with plenty of action and a really good plot. I liked the characters and the descriptions of the settings. Some of the characters were really dark and interesting. Most of the characters were so good I that I wanted to keep reading to find out their fate. I got totally caught up in the story and felt the suspense build throughout. I would definitely recommend this book.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

This is a haunting story that disturbs the emotions and emphasises the problems that a toxic masculine culture brings upon a community. Where fists are tools of the trade and used with abandon.
It is a tale of revenge and punishment in a fishing town, by fishermen and their relatives, that is carried to extremes by a belief in the righteousness of violence being the answer.
At times I found the story confusing, especially the opening scenes, as the various characters take their parts and lie with abandon.
But take heart any reader, all is explained in the end - and the very culture that spawned this way of dealing with life is now much more rare as certainly the fishing industry in Hull, and towns like it, is diminished, on a larger scale of boats (and thus less of a tight grouping of men), and more automated.
I might have understood a little better if I had read previous novels in the series.

Like the last DS McAvoy case, Scorched Earth, there's a lot of joining up of dots to be done in Cold Bones. Since we're talking about the Humberside police here with Hull as a major shipping and fishing port, that means that those dots can travel to a lot of far-flung places that make them difficult to connect. There's a particularly difficult geographical and historical connection to be made in the rather grim case (aren't they all?) that DS Aector McAvoy and his boss Detective Superintendent Trish Pharaoh have to deal with in two separate locations. one in Hull and the other in Iceland, but that's the least of the obstacles standing in their way.

It's Pharaoh who is doing the long-distance travelling this time, a highly sensitive matter whose details haven't been shared with anyone on the Humberside force - not her closest friend, colleague and confidante, McAvoy and not even Area Commander David Slattery. A body has been found in a frozen bay that has connections to a suspected serial killer who may also have struck in places as wide apart as Baltimore, Oslo, Nova Scotia and Le Harve. Even more disturbing is the fact that the latest victim, found in the sea at Skagi Peninsula off Iceland, has enough breath in them to utter just one word when discovered - "McAvoy".

He might know nothing about what Trish Pharaoh is investigating in Iceland, but acting Detective Inspector McAvoy is able to figure out a few possible connections himself when an old lady is found frozen dead in the bath of her cottage. Enid Cappell was a bit of a busy-body, a former social worker who it seems lately has been working with a journalist to report on some old mysteries, rumours and secrets associated with the local fishing community. McAvoy quickly picks up that some of the writing and investigating she has done into the fishing history of Hull is is connected to one particular boat, the Blake Purcell, lost at sea off Iceland's Skagi Peninsula in 1970, taking with it a number of the city's well-known trawlermen. There are incidents surrounding the sinking however that others would prefer remained forgotten and never investigated.

Cold Bones is well-named as it's a common theme that connects deaths and murders in a closed community over a period of time, the secrets interred with their bones. The relevance of Hull, with its history and fishing industry, its connections with cold places like Russia and Iceland, is once again a return to the distinguishing feature of David Mark's DS McAvoy thrillers. The murders in Cold Bones are seeped in the history and associated fishing imagery of the place, from the fishing hooks used by a vicious killer to the literal and metaphorical tides that can unexpectedly bring back the past and wash up old secrets.

So what's familiar about Cold Bones and what's new as far as it being a DS McAvoy novel is concerned? Well, it has the familiar strength of theme, purpose and characterisation, which is inextricably tied up by the insightful writing with the mood and history of its Hull setting. There's not any particular new developments in characterisation, the revelations about Aector's background that came out in Scorched Earth are briefly noted at one point but not really touched upon here, but they still simmer and feed into the work in other subtle ways relating to family. The creation, definition and behaviours of McAvoy, Roisin and Trish however remain strikingly original.

What is perhaps new in Cold Bones is the way the secondary characters, their own personal lives, problems and secrets also feel very real and weave into the fabric of the story. Old people feature prominently in the novel and not just as figures trying to keep a historical crime secret and under wraps; the whole idea of history and tradition is tied up in their lives. In that respect, dementia - which is another motif that runs through the book - also ties into the loss of history and tradition; the past is slowly being forgotten, wiped away by time and the passing of a generation, but the memory of it, and the consequences of things that happened in those times still remains deep within the cold bones of the community.

That is perhaps what is really new about Cold Bones and what you will find is also a distinguishing feature of David Mark's writing. It's not so much the international angle that connects Hull to the world outside or even the Icelandic aspect to the case, what Marks reveals always goes much deeper than that and to a more universal level of observation and revelation. Everyone has their family histories and when combined, those histories take on a social aspect. And when there's something bad in there, it gets into the bones, and spreads like a disease. McAvoy and Pharaoh will once again look to find a cure - and McAvoy will no doubt take a heavy battering in the course of events - but the barriers placed in their way from above and from influential voices in the community suggest that the whole body may be too corrupt to entirely cut the tumour out.

DS McAvoy is back in Cold Bones which is the 8th book in the series.

As usual David Mark uses Hull as both a backdrop and a main character in what is a very dark novel in which McAvoy faces yet more challenges that push him to the brink.

The story is a complex one but it keeps you engaged throughout until the final gripping scenes that are played out many miles apart.

Highly recommended

A further sublime addition to the McAvoy canon, this series just gets better and better.

This is the 8th instalment in the authors Hull based detective series and carefully intertwines factual history and the usual suspects. McAvoy is delving into the facsinating history of HeSsle road to try and untangle family ties, murder and money. Trish finds herself adrift in Iceland following up a murder which is connected to McAVoys, yet both are unable to meld their investigations due to brass interference.

David Mark offers an intricate novel with a large cast and with the timeline spanning many years it was a book I really had to concentrate on. I always find I want more interaction between the 3 main characters of Aector, Roisen and Trish and due to the location of Trish in this book there was less character interaction that I would have hoped for. This doesn’t not however diminish the story in any way.

5* for this solid story. I can’t wait for the next instalment.

Extremely violent thriller beautifully written with tragic events of years ago based around Hull and its fishing industry. A dark story of attempts to find the truth of a shipwreck,paternity and sudden brutal deaths in the present day. The investigation is pursued in both Iceland and Hull with neither of the two detectives knowing that they are on a parallel course! Our main hero is a deeply honourable character prevented from pursuing his case by a short sighted superior but of course it all unravels in the end with a welter of violence before the shocking truth is revealed.Excellent!

Oh wow! This has to be the best in the series featuring DS Aector Mc Avoy and I don't quite know how we reached book 8.The story moves between the fishing community in Hull and Iceland. A chilling, convoluted plot with great research, descriptions and a brilliant ending. I have no hesitation with my 5* and highly recommend this series.Thanks to Net Galley and publisher for my ARC. Reviews on Facebook and Goodreads.

McAvoy is one of the characters I'll never tire of. Another case where he's up against as much adversity from within those in power in his own force, let alone the people he's trying to stop. A great tale, skilfully plotted, and interspersed with breakout scenes of Trish Pharoah, off on her own crusade, seemingly not linked, but it loops back nicely to crash together with McAvoy's investigation ta just the right moment. First rate story telling and thoroughly enjoyed it.

It all began almost innocently: DS Aector McAvoy was told by a concerned stranger that she and her son had regularly seen an old woman who lived in a nearby cottage but she hadn't been for a few days. Perhaps McAvoy could check that she was alright? No - she wouldn't go with him, but she'd tell him where the house was. And so McAvoy went, only to find the windows open on a freezing cold day - and inside an old lady was in her bath encased in ice. It might have been a tragic accident, but McAvoy suspected murder - and he thought that someone had watched the woman die.

As McAvoy investigates Enid Chappell's life he uncovers her links to a fishing trawler lost in the sixties. Meanwhile his boss, Detective Superintendent Trish Pharaoh is in Iceland investigating a mysterious death: Hull and Iceland have always had strong connections via the fishing industry. Aector's on his own (he's Acting Inspector McAvoy); well he's on his own apart from Slattery and he seems more worried that Aector shouldn't upset anyone influential than he is about arresting a killer and as time goes on it seems more and more likely that we're talking about a serial killer.

As I look back on my life there's someone in the news who stands out in my mind for each decade. For the sixties it wasn't the cultural icons but a woman called Lily Bilocca. Outraged by the loss of fifty eight lives in three trawler accidents she campaigned for improved safety. I have a vivid memory of her standing on the dock and demanding to know about whether or not a trawler had a radio as it left harbour. She achieved so much - and brought the fishing industry alive to those of us who had thought little of it beyond our Friday night fish and chips. Although Cold Bones is set some fifty years later, the harsh weather into which the trawlermen sailed is no different and David Mark brings this to life brilliantly. You feel the hardships and you understand why the industry creates the sort of men it does.

It's a complex plot: occasionally I'd have said that it was too complicated for its own good. As a police procedural it's unusual: it will be better on a second reading when you'll understand who's who and what's happening. It might also read a little more comfortably if you've read earlier books in the series as you'll understand the relationships and the background a little better. The series starts with The Dark Winter.

The writing is excellent. Mark is particularly good with description. Take, for instance these words about Hessle foreshore:

A place of muddy whiteness. Sugar and salt and dirt: all squashed between the concrete slabs of land and sky.

Characterisation and location are both good - just remember that you'll need to be in the wide-awake club to follow the plot and you'll be OK. I'd like to thank the publishers for making a copy available to the Bookbag.

I’ve read all the earlier DS Aector McAvoy novels and enjoyed them so was excited to receive the latest, Cold Bones via NetGalley to review.
However this book really did not grip me. There were many characters and they became somewhat muddled in my mind. I found the plot very convoluted and confusing and when the grand reveal came at the end I was somewhat underwhelmed.
The Hull fishing part of the plot was very detailed and although it was well researched it did not grip me.
Aector and his boss Trish normally spark off each other which adds to the interest but as they were not working the investigation together and Trish was in Iceland whilst Aector was in Hull, this was not possible.
This was not my favourite book in the series and although I did manage to finish it I did not find it a compelling read.
I will still go ahead and read the next book when it comes out as hopefully this was just a glitch and the next one will be up to the usual standard.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an advance copy of Cold Bones, the eighth novel to feature DS Aector McAvoy and DI Trish Pharaoh of Humberside Police.

Trish is on a need to know investigation leaving Aector as Acting Inspector when he finds the body of Enid Chappell frozen to death in her bathtub. Accident or murder? They won’t know until the body is defrosted but Aector suspects the latter and investigates accordingly. In the meantime Trish, unknown to her team, is in Iceland investigating a suspicious death.

I thoroughly enjoyed Cold Bones which has a convoluted plot line and some interesting glimpses of Hull’s past as a fishing town. The novel switches point of view between Trish and Aector as they pursue their separate enquiries, both unaware of the other’s progress. Both plot lines are compulsive but the big winner is the reader who gets oversight of both investigations and knows more than the detectives. This helps to put the plot into perspective as it is complex, detailed and easy to get lost in if you’re not paying attention. Much of it centres on events of long ago, notably the unlucky Ballantine family who have lost too many members, and a group of fishermen who are hiding a secret. I found myself itching to get back to it when I had to put it down because I found the slow trickle of reveals absorbing, making me want to know more and how it all fits together. I must admit that I found the answers rather unbelievable but that hardly matters as the journey to that point is so enjoyable.

I’m all for authors trying a different approach so I was interested to see how Aector and Trish would do flying solo. I missed the fun of their banter and while Aector is Aector, pursuing his case doggedly and apprehensively, Trish is a shadow of herself, subdued and depressed. I think for the reader they work better as a team than as individuals.

Cold Bones is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

As a new reader of this series I found it difficult to relate to the established characters and understand their relationships. I did however learn more than enough about the history of fishing in Hull