3* Decent tale, but very much told, not shown. Flashbacks weren't organic and slowed down the story towards the crescendo.

This is my first book by this author, that reads like her first book. Pacing is off, the tale is veey much told, not shown, and at 70% gone, it should have been ending. But, at that point the author started delving into Sheridan's brother going missing, into the baddie's past and thoughts and machinations, and feelings, and everything slowed right down. It took me out of the take at this point, and a couple of times before.

What I didn't get was how there wasn't a hint of Scouse in anyone's speech. This tale is set right bang in the middle of Liverpool and there's no way that at least one character wouldn't have been speaking that way. Even without the accent, there'd have been local expressions, but the only thing there was, was 'butty'. I know the author's a Brit, but I'm not sure she wrote an authentically Scouse-set tale. I mean, EFC and LFC barely featured!!

It is readable but it needs weeding out, details need to be sharper and less round the houses, and sorry, but it needs a good editing and the pace needs picking up. I'm not sure if the care home owner grabbing something mysterious and going to London on a train will lead to events in book 2, or if the author's totally forgot about her and her Xmas visit to family, as by the time the tale ended, it was April, I think, or at least, March. This author has potential but where detail about people was needed, she skipped it, and where things needed to be galloping towards the finale, she slowed things down and introduced things that jarred, from 72% onwards.

ARC courtesy of Thomas and Mercer and Netgalley, for my reading pleasure.



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This was a good story which kept me turning the pages throughout the night. Great mystery, writing and plotting will recommend to all my friends who love this genre.

I always like a police procedural with a strong female lead, a genuine knowledge of the way the police work and a style that pulls you in from the start. This book has it in spades. Sheridan Holler is an amalgam of a lot of police officers, caring, dedicated and hard working. It’s action packed, has lots of twists and surprises, and ultimately a good ending. As this is book 1 in the series I’m hoping we find out more about Sheridans brothers murder, and also more about her colleagues, particularly Anna. I also really liked Maud, the cat.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thanks to Thomas Mercer Publishing, NetGalley, and T.M. Payne for the chance to review the advance copy of Long Time Dead. The story begins with a drive by shooting and then seven years later our action picks up when a very decayed body is unearthed during a routine grave digging operation at a local cemetery. The body is definitely not the woman that should be there and his body was only found because her husband died and was to be buried with her.
Investigation shows he was someone who had been suspected in killing a fellow officer seven years ago but signs show he was already dead. The only chance to find the real culprit after all this time is to question the lone survivor who was shot in the head and has been in a nursing facility all this time.
I’m leaving it there so I don’t give anything away but I do highly recommend this book. Wonderful characters and well written plot and world building.

I really enjoyed this book and romped through it! When a man's body is found in a grave which has been opened up for a husband to be reunited with his wife, Detective Sheridan Holler finds herself opening up a cold case where a police officer was shot dead. She is also constantly looking for clues in the murder of her young brother many years ago. The short chapters keep the story moving along quickly and I really liked the characters. This is a real page turner that will keep you on the edge of your seat to the end. Can't wait for the next in the series.
Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

This is described as the first book in a series featuring DI Sheridan Holler.
It is often difficult for an author to produce a pacey narrative in the first book of a series.

HoweverT.M.Payne has managed to introduce a group of Liverpool detectives, who I look forward to following in future novels. Within this fast paced murder thriller.

I like the way that the author has created and developed the characters in this book. I also like the use of short chapters which allows the multiple facets of the story to unfold.

I won'go into detail about the plot for fear of spoiling the story. Suffice to say that there are plenty of twists and turns, alongside a few red herrings before the truth emerges.

I give my thanks to Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for a copy of this book in exchange for this review

I love finding a new police series with a strong female lead. And that’s exactly what we have here with Sheridan Holler. The writing is excellent, the plotting is tight and twisty, the pacing is perfect, and I raced through to the end with no clue how the author was going to tidy things up. What an ending! A very satisfying conclusion to an adventure for Sheridan and her little band of friends and colleagues.

A body found in a grave opens up an old case and things turn out to be not as simple as they seemed. But there are no cliches here. It’s a very clever story about assumptions and manipulation. In many forms. And it’s great fun as well as angsty.

There are no spoilers here but the ending clears up the original mistaken murder investigation while leading us through the current one. We also learn about Detective Holler and her colleagues private lives to ‘flesh’ out their characters. Holler is a really interesting character with the heart of gold soft core beneath a strong shell. We see both sides of her and I’m already looking forward to the next outing for Sheridan and her team. Though maybe Ms Payne could let Sheridan have a couple of weeks in the sun first 😁

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley

A brilliant book that has you gripped with suspence, mystery and murder this book has a great story with characters that make it so real excellent.

A really great British police procedural and murder mystery. Lots of twists, amazing characters. I couldn't put this book down, it was always "just one more chapter". The discovery of one long dead body leading to an old murder case that had already been solved but actually wasn't! Good police work that gets the story straight in the end. Loved the 'come uppance' at the end. I hope there'll be more books about Sheridan and her team.

When a gravedigger digs up the skeletal remains of a male victim at a cemetery, DI Sheridan Holler and her colleague DS Anna Markinson with the Hale Street Police Station are called in to investigate.

The body was buried atop a coffin of a female who died several years earlier. The grave was reopened because her husband recently passed away and they were meant to be buried beside each other.

The victim is later identified as John Lively, a man who shot an off-duty police officer and another female in a supermarket seven years ago. Fortunately, the unknown female survived but the cop didn’t.

Soon after the shooting John Lively disappeared and is still wanted in connection with the shooting.

Apparently John Lively was shot to death and has been dead for seven years. Its now up to DI Sheridan Holler and her team to find out how John ended up buried in a cemetery.

Meanwhile DI Sheridan Holler’s still looking into a cold case involving her brother Andrew Holler who was murdered when he was fourteen years old.

Overall, this is an enjoyable detective story with engaging characters, an interesting plot, and terrific pacing. Would recommend


Thank you to T. M. Payne, NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the arc of this book.

A good start to a new series featuring DI Sheridan Holler an her team. The Liverpool based detective works on a tricky case linked to the death of a police officer. The prime suspect was missing from the time of the incident - and then his body turns up. But the story turns out to be far more complex than first appears.

Long Tome Dead is well plotted with some good character development. Holler is a good lead, although the story of her brother's death in childhood feels a little cliched. And there's far too much about her girlfriend's cat.

The ending has surprises, with the original events replayed in flashback so the reader discovers exactly what happened. It's well done and draws the main story arc to a good conclusion.

Thank you to Netgallery and the publisher for this ARC. The publication date is the 1st March 2024. Initially, it took me a while to get into this book but when I did wow what a book it was full of suspense and my favourite character was DI Holler. It was a great police procedural with loads poignant moments that made me think of it long after I finished the book. I can’t wait to see more from this author!

Seven years after a shooting that killed a police officer and left another woman severely disabled, the body of the man suspected to have shot them is found. Detective Sheridan Holler and her team investigate. I enjoyed this and look forward to more in this series. 4 stars.

A great read. An action packed police procedural with several twists along the way. I like the characters , the detectives are well rounded individuals . The plot is set in different timeperiods but does all come together (well mostly) . I liked the descriptions, the way that conversations are written. It all just reads so easily and although the crimes do provoke a feeling of sadness, they do seem realistic, as does the investigation into the crimes.
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC. I will definately look for more from this author

Long Time Dead a Detective Sheridan Holler by T. M. Payne is the first book in this new series.

A cold case that’s no longer cold. A suspect who’s been murdered. A silenced witness. Long Time Dead starts off intense and keeps you glued to the pages.

DI Sheridan Holler is used to solving crimes on Liverpool’s streets, but after a decayed corpse turns up in a cemetery, she finds herself reopening not one but two cold cases. Seven years earlier, two women were gunned down and the only suspect, small-time drug dealer John Lively, was never seen again. Case closed. Until the body in the cemetery is identified as his.

Can DI Holler put the puzzle together before anyone else dies?

There were some sad moments in the book. The epilogue was so good, as it really brought everything together and answered my questions.

I did fall in love with these characters, and the story allowed me to escape from daily life for a while.

I am looking forward to more in this series. I would recommend this book and this author.

#LongTimeDead #NetGalley @AmazonPub

This is a great read! Based in Liverpool, DI Sheridan Holler has to solve multiple random murders..... or are they ....?

Really clever, complex storyline. Can´t wait to read the next installment!

Highly recommend.

My thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for giving me the opportunity read an advanced copy in return for an honest review.

Long Time Dead is book one in the Detective Sheridan Holler by T. M. Payne.
I’m so excited for this series. It’s going to be such a great one.
The story is pacy and well written. The characters were well developed.
The story telling and the descriptions were so vivid and compelling that I could see everything happening in my minds eye, it also kept me guessing right up to the end.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

This is the first book in a police series featuring D I Sheridan Holler set in Liverpool. The plot is excellent, I was gripped from the first page. So many strands to the story and some wonderful twists. The characters are well drawn and the good guys are very engaging.
My only gripe with the book (and it's a very petty one) is a geographical one. The book is "set" in Liverpool, but it's not the Liverpool I know. Street names are made up and the accuracy of some of the descriptions are a bit off. If I wasn't a local, this wouldn't be a problem as it doesn't impact on the story in any way. Having said that, I'm very much looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

I have just read this wonderful book in an afternoon - so good I couldn’t put it down. It was marvellous to read a ‘British book’ and appreciate all the frames of reference and even more marvellous to read one with a great story, characters to care about and elements of humour. Police procedural, murder & crime at it’s best.

This book is a show stopper - one I would give to my friends. I would buy multiple copies of this book for people! After reading plenty of thrillers it takes a lot these days for me to not work out the ending but this one totally got me.