Member Reviews
I'm afraid this one just wasn't for me - I was offered the opportunity to read and was extremely grateful for the opportunity as I'd heard good things. Unfortunately I just could not get into this story and having put the book to the side and returned to it to start anew I (again) found I wasn't enjoying it enough to review on my blog.
This is the first novel in the series DCI Kate Daniels series.
DCI Kate Daniels gets given a second chance after not being able to solve a murder case. She comes back as SIO, senior investigating officer.
Then another murder happens, she recognises who the body is. She majorly cocks up, she keeps the information to herself. It then all kicks off in her life, professionally and personally.
I absolutely loved this book, Mari Hanna’s writing is just smooth, the story had enough detail in it. The more I read, the suspense become more intense. I liked Kate instantly, she’s definitely a dark horse. It is a fantastic book, with some shocks along the way.
I can’t wait to read book two.
This is my first read by the author and I enjoyed it. While this is only book one in the series, it has a balance of case and personal life for the team. I really think that’s a must in a successful detective series. Getting to know and like the good guys helps to offset the bad guys.
I also really liked this one cuz the case was personal for Kate, our lead detective. Not only has she some history with the location of the death, but she has history with the victim that she is concealing from her superiors.
This was a little longer than my normal crime series read but I really didn’t mind as I was engaged trying to figure out who did it.
I can’t wait to pick up book two.
Still haunted by the double murder she has been unable to solve, despite her promise to the distraught parents who lost their daughter, DCI Kate Daniels' life is about to get even more difficult. Called to the scene of a shooting in a luxury apartment on Newcastle's Quayside, this is Kate's chance to shine as SIO for the first time in her career, but she is caught in a dilemma when she realises that she has a connection to the victim. Rather than come clean, and reveal a secret she has been hiding about her personal life, Kate decides to keep what she knows under wraps.
As the investigation proceeds, Kate is horrified by the uncomfortable direction her ever-watchful boss is determined to take, especially as she is now unable to explain why she believes he is wrong. She finds herself isolated from her team, going renegade to protect someone she cares about, and constantly distracted by the conviction that the murderer she seeks in the cold-case double murder is still out there... and working his way through a bizarre kill list...
The Murder Wall by Mari Hannah is the first book in the best-selling DCI Kate Daniels series, and I am delighted to be starting at the very beginning to follow Kate's adventures for the next few months as part of Orion Publishing's #TeamDaniels feature, in collaboration with Compulsive Readers.
Kate is a complicated character, and Hannah dives straight in by giving her a full backstory right from the word go. The characters come at you thick and fast, all of whom carry significant weight in Kate's personal and professional lives - her romantic history, the relationships she has with her work colleagues, and the details of a cold case and current investigation seem disparate plot lines at first, but before long the outstanding attention Hannah gives to the long-game in this story is revealed. By the time I was a quarter into this book, I was totally hooked!
The threads of the story twist and turn, gradually becoming enmeshed in each other to create an absolute page-turner of a book. Hannah does a cracking job of building weight into both characters and plot, dropping reveals with perfectly judged precision, and all the while glimpses into the disturbed mind of a killer with a plan ramp up the atmosphere of menace to the max. The pace increases, as Kate is torn between two investigations, and ends up backed into a corner trying protect her secrets. You know that confrontations with authority figures and a deranged killer are inevitable - and it is delicious when they come in a series of blow-by-blow, climactic events.
It is not easy to combine emotional storylines with a suspenseful plot, and paint an authentic picture of police work, but Hannah manages this with consummate skill. I really enjoyed how she delves into the nitty gritty of work-life balance in world of law enforcement, and the conflict between the old guard and the modern world too.
I really feel I have got to know Kate through this story, and I loved every moment. I cannot wait to continue my journey with book two, Settled Blood.
It shouldn't come of much of a shock to people when I say that this book does not beat around the bush in terms of content. Literally straight away the author describes a certain act of violence and abuse which, whilst it does set the scene for the storyline, it was enough to blindside me because I wasn't expecting that straight away. And, as weird as this sounds, not that I get a kick out of peoples misfortune, but it had the desired effect and had me hooked. I wanted to know who the person was, why they did what they did, had they done something like that before. You know, all of the usual questions.
For a first book in a series, 'The Murder Wall' definitely was a good opening to DCI Kate Daniels and her team. As readers we learn about the main characters, trying to work out what makes them tick and, most importantly, how far they are willing to go for justice. Well, if Kate Daniels would stop rubbing people up the wrong way that is!
In all fairness, it seemed that all she needed to do was breathe and she annoyed her co-workers, solicitors, random people on the street. You name it. That aside, I thought that she was very clued up on her job, clearly had the oomph to go far, but just like anyone else, she made mistakes which cost her and the team.
I did enjoy the rollercoaster of the novel, what with the murders, suspense, and entwined personal life - it kept me guessing multiple times, whilst also angering me in others (I mean, since when were your colleagues snitches!?). I did feel for the team where that was concerned as they were trying so hard to work out the culprit, yet one of their own was doing everything in their power to sabotage the case. Who does that?
Like I said before, 'The Murder Wall' was a good start to a new series and a suspenseful stepping stone to what could be a very, very interesting series.
Running to keep us as quickly as I can with #TeamDaniels, I am a little behind but hello! Here are my thoughts on ‘Murder Wall’, Kate Daniels first outing. I joined the series later on and so my perception of her is a little different as this is set in 2008, and this is the first major case she has handled.
Its funny, retconning the books you read and trying to see it totally fresh because we know where certain characters arcs go, but here, Kate arrives fully formed as a woman in a patriarchal organisation that despises women openly in some cases, and even more those women who are queer.
She carries with her the murders that she herself discovered almost a year earlier, in her church, that remain unsolved so from the start we see her as someone with integrity, staying power and stubbornness who refuses to give up.
However, this will push each and every button as well as crossing over into her personal life , she has higher ups (ACC level) waiting for her to stumble and be replaced by another man, so when she attends a shooting, and the suspect has a close and personal connection, not only is her career in jeopardy, so is the investigation and her personal life.
And as circumstantial evidence mounts up to point the finger of blame directly at her friend and colleague, Jo Soulsby, help comes from an unexpected quarter….a murderer.
This is a fantastic book, I had to read it slowly and carefully to make sure I got the gist of who was who and where they fit together in the team dynamic, and their allegiances . I bloody love Kate and her fierce dedication to her job but god alive I wish she gave herself a break on occasion, she genuinely is so hard on herself that any friendships and loyalties are stretched.
Her instincts are killer and she quickly suspects a serial murderer is on the loose she merely has to work out his or her long game and how it can be proved to relate to the 2 inital killings which opened the book.
What loved was how the murders are not graphic or gratuitous, they are dealt with in a non-exploitative way where justice for the victims is the driving force. You get a glimpse of how difficult it is that the force cannot completely divorce themselves from the crimes committed and their own personal lives, the impact of trauma is sensitively portrayed , as is the issue of ‘tolerance’, ( and that word is deliberately used to highlight one of the most moving paragraphs in the book, in my humble opinion).
I mentioned I had to read slowly in order to savour the details and make sure I was paying full attention , as when the brown stuff hits the spinny thing, you heart is absolutely in your mouth willing Kate on to success.
Loved it, loved it, loved it, this is a fantastic opener for a series which will run and run, and I loved the nostalgia it gave me for my errant teen years at Newcastle Uni…happy days!
This is the first book in the Kate Daniels series and it is a brilliant introduction to a great character and her team. Battling disappointment and regret over not being able to get a conviction for the murder of a young girl and vicar eleven months earlier, Kate is selected to be the SIO on the murder of a man in his home. However she fails to disclose that she knows him, what he was capable of and his connection to someone she is very close to. When that person becomes implicated in the death it then becomes impossible for her to pull away from the case.
This is a series I know I will really enjoy, The characters are all likeable and feel like real people. You get to see their doubts about things when things don’t go as they should and their dedication to the job despite pressures from above from people who should never have the power that they do. Most importantly you see their guilt about letting family members down when they can’t give an answer. I thought this aspect of the novel was one of the most revealing and isn’t something I’ve seen a lot. I definitely haven’t seen the impact of waiting and still feeling hopeful that someone cares enough to carry on digging. I feel that as the series progresses the teamwork and dedication will be a huge part of the storyline.
The chapters that concerned the killer were mercifully short. I found these really creepy and intimidating. Those alongside the chapters that featured the job of the probation service, showed the danger that is faced daily.
I adore having a full series of books to get stuck into. The Murder Wall by Mari Hannah had my interest piqued just from the blurb.
We meet DCI Kate Daniels who is in the North East of the UK. She's a tough detective who expects the best from her team and wont ask them to do anything she wouldnt do. I immediately warmed to Kate, as I read. In fact Mari Hannah has created some great characters. She has really humanised them all. Kate' herself is flawed and makes grave errors that, to me, make her all the more authentic.
This is a book thats most definitely a 'one more chapter' read. The short chapters fly by as the plot unfolds. Tension and a feeling of thinking something is going to go badly wrong had my pulse pounding in places. Mari Hannah certainly has that skill perfected already! I was trying to work out who was the killer all the way but the misdirection was excellently done which kept me on my toes throughout.
As a reader, I always wonder if I will ever get bored with certain genres. If every police procedural is as clever and well written as The Murder Wall, I will never be bored! A welcome new addition to my author list and I am looking forward to the next instament.
Thanks to Tracy Fenton of Compulsive Readers, Orion Books and NetGalley for my gifted ebooks to write my honest review.
TheMurderWall #NetGalley #teamtenssion #booktour #compulsivereaders
Thank you to Tracy at Compulsive Reader for allowing me to participate in this blog series.
The Murder Wall is the first book in the DCI Kate Daniels Novels.
I love that this book is set in the North East of England, and from the start, I was intrigued as to how we would get to know Kate. I loved the attention to detail of the locations.DCI Daniels is haunted by her failure to solve a double murder and carries a lot of guilt. The story occurs after the investigation when it is quickly realised that everyone has been lying to the police and keeping secrets. Clues begin to emerge that impact the double murder case, fueling DCI Daniels' determination to solve the double murder and the current murder case. It becomes a race against time to solve the issue before the killer claims another victim.
DCI Daniels is an ambitious, career-driven single woman who likes to challenge stereotypes. At first, I didn't like Kate Daniels, but as time went on and more and more about her past was explained, I realised that the events of her past helped shape her into who she is like nowadays.
I enjoyed this debut novel, and it's easy to see why Mari Hannah is as famous as she is. The book is well-written and structured, with a simple story and short chapters. Ms. Hannah knows how to heighten the tension and amp up the drama factor. A variety of characters are introduced, and they are portrayed very well. The villain scared me, gave me goosebumps, and was extremely scary. The author is very knowledgeable and confident, showing through her writing.
My first book by this author & the first in a new series too, so a great place to begin.
Opening with DCI Kate Daniels discovering two bodies in her local church, the story swiftly moves on eleven months to another murder victim & Kate’s first case as SIO. However, her boss is poking his nose in too much for her liking & she has also withheld the fact that she had personal knowledge of the victim. More bodies pile up & Kate seems thwarted at every turn.
This is a great police procedural & the snippets of the serial killer are tantalising. Short chapters, fabulous characterisation & a tense ride to the conclusion. It’ll be interesting to see how Kate’s character/leadership develops & whether her team continue to follow her regardless. Ready for book two now.
A grizzly start to proceedings in the prologue as DCI Kate Daniels stumbles upon a double murder in a church. A case that remains unsolved but through her connection one that Kate is determined to keep open and solve, if just for the sake of the girl’s parents.
Eleven months later Kate and colleague Hank Gormley are called to a murder scene, a woman returns to her upmarket apartment to find her husband murdered. There is a flicker of recognition for Kate, she recognises the victim, and this puts her in an awkward position, one which means she should recuse herself from the case. The victim is confirmed as Alan James Stephens, the ex-husband of Jo Soulsby. Jo is known to most officers because she has worked closely with the police providing psychological profiling expertise.
Jo Soulsby herself has problems as we find her in a park well after midnight, confused and dishevelled, with ripped tights and blood on her coat. She is sat there in a daze and two young women offer help that she refuses and eventually she manages to get a taxi home.
This is very much a novel of conflict and loyalties. Kate is conflicted because she wants to continue as SIO on the Stephens case, but not only does she know him but also Jo Soulsby told her of an incident in their past which may have some bearing. Kate faces a dilemma, own up to her senior officer and breach the confidence of Jo, thereby damaging their friendship possible irrecoverably. Or stay quiet, remain loyal to Jo and risk the repercussions to her career and her working relationship with Hank, her right-hand man. This case will also put the historical case into the ‘long grass’ and she promised that she would do all in her power to bring the killer to justice for the sake of the little girl’s parents.
There is personal conflict too for Kate and a serious complication to matters; Kate and Jo were in a relationship. This relationship remained very private and floundered partly because Kate would not go public for fear of its effect upon her career and because Jo thought she was more committed to the job. Kate still has strong feelings for Jo and wants a reconciliation, but it appears that whatever her course of action will prevent that.
Further murders occur and it soon becomes apparent that they are dealing with a serial killer, which is the main thrust of the storyline. For much of the novel they flounder because there are few clues to connect the murders and the motivation remains unclear. Jo believes Stephens is one of the victims but further up the chain of command there seems to be a consensus that there's enough evidence to charge Jo. Naturally Kate is keen to prove Jo’s innocence, but the evidence stacks up, so she must find something new to introduce.
Kate is a strong and determined lead and a promising character to build a series on. We see her compassion for the Short family, her giving a promise that she may not be able to back up and of course she must pursue the case unofficially. All good detectives have an insubordinate streak! She is loyal to her team and expects it back, as best seen with Hank, which highlights one of those opposites work partnerships that work so well and proves to be the glue to hold it all together.
The killer is clearly emotionally damaged and somewhat deranged consequently, seemingly wanting the attention or wanting to be caught, but becoming frustrated as the police are neither publicising, they have a serial killer or picking up on the clues he leaves. There are regular chapters from his viewpoint as we see him selecting his targets, who are specific and not random, and his venting of frustrations.
At nearly 500 pages it is quite a meaty novel, but it flows along nicely and picks up pace towards the final confrontation. Being the first of a series one can expect a good deal of scene setting and introduction but these are well encapsulated within the storyline, without becoming tedious. The reveal of Kate and Jo’s relationship being a perfect example of being essential to the plot but setting up a background. There’s plenty going on to hold the reader’s interest and the violence is low-key for a serial killer story. There’s some great dialogue and police banter wound around the storyline, together with a department snitch and an ACC who’s a bit of a rotter to add to the overall enjoyment.
I received a copy for a free and unbiased opinion.
The Murder Wall is a great first book. Kate Daniel’s is relatable heroine and Detective. She has, as expected, a complicated past but this was in keeping with the North East’s history and I liked this touch. Kate is a woman dedicated to her job and has always put her career first. Until now when she fails to disclose a personal connection to her current murder case and is still haunted by a double murder from the past. I loved her team and the fact her colleagues bar one treats her as a competent detective and not as a woman.
I couldn’t put the book down till I found out what was going on and the plots moves quickly, from suspect to suspect and motive to motive. The level of tension remains high throughout the book as we wonder whether Kate will be caught, and will there be another victim?
I am currently taking part in #teamdaniels which is run by Compulsive Readers, where we are reading the Kate Daniels Mysteries in the lead up to ‘The Longest Goodbye’ being released in January next year.
I am kicking myself for not starting this series soon, I was instantly hooked by the authors writing, especially after that start!
Aside from being very dark (who can resist a twisted serial killer!) I really liked that we got to know the main characters both within their work and personal settings.
Daniels is a multi level character, showing her determination in progressing her career, the compassion she shows towards her victims and her interactions with those around her.
I can already tell this series will become one of my favourites!
4.5 stars
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This is the first of Mari Hannah's work that I have ever read and I am glad to say it will not be the last. The storyline follows an abrupt crime with, seemingly, very little motive and a need for justice. The book follows the protagonist, Kate, who is acting as SIO for the case.
Kate is an extremely likeable protagonist and her journey through the book is delightful to witness. She begins to really develop confidence in her role and this makes her successful and strong; two qualities that are a necessity in her line of work.
Throughout the narrative, there are elements of surprise in relation to the family members involved within the case, and it seemed impossible to get to the bottom of the culprit. This made me particularly warm for those closely involved within the case and I simply could not wait to see justice be served.
Overall, a fantastic read for any crime lovers and I am looking forward to seeing how the series unravels in the next book.