Death in the Woods

Death in the Woods is a great action packed mystery that deals almost with any crime you can imagine. This book kept me reading until 5:39 am. The main story is about a murder of a 16-year-old who has just won a prestigious music award and is set for a life in the world of young stars. Side stories include underage pedophile ring, kidnapping, human trafficking and that’s just for starters. DI Dan Hellier is assigned to the case but with the caveat that a retiring DCI will be nominally in charge. Things quickly take off and we are on our way through a fast paced nonstop book that never slows down. I wasn’t too keen on DI Hellier in the beginning but he finally learned how to lead and not let his personal history interfere with the job at hand. There are some great women detectives in the book who could easily spin into their own books. I would love to recommend this book to anyone and happily give it a 5 star rating. Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for my unbiased review. Great book

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from the first page to the last! A clever police detective story, complex enough to keep the reader turning pages and wanting more, with plenty of suspects and clues along the way. It featured strong main characters who I have already warmed to and am keen to meet again very soon in the next two novels. More please!

4 stars

I read the Kindle edition.

Two boys are sneaking a smoke in the woods before class. They notice something near a fallen log. Uncovering the body, they are startled to see that it is Carly Braithwaite.

This is to be DI Dan Hellier’s first case as lead. He is to be “supervised” by DCI Ian Gould who is set to retire in three weeks. The investigation into the death of Carly begins with DCI Gould interviewing students and staff at the school near where Carly’s body was discovered. At the same time, DI Dan Hellier goes to speak to Carly’s father and surviving sister. The father reacts violently but finally manages to calm down. At the school, DCI Gould interviews the students, but one person of interest named Jamie manages to get away before the interviews begin. One of the teachers, Miles who is the school music teacher, acts oddly. He claims that he is over-sensitive.

Meanwhile, Carly’s English teacher, Claire goes around to see Miles at home and sees more than she should. She gets in deep trouble.

The next day, they are speaking to Jed Abrams, the person in charge of the recording studio where Carly was to go on Sunday. He claims she never showed up, but is also acting very suspiciously. Suddenly, the case seems to go in two directions.

When the suspects are brought in, the stories turn into a he-said/she-said situation. The questioning was done very well, and was interesting and informative.

It is hard to believe that this is a debut novel – at least I couldn’t find any other books by Mr. Steadman. This novel is very well written and plotted. I only discovered a couple of minor gaffes in it. The tension in this story begins with the discovery of Carly’s body. It continues at a high level throughout the novel. I was a little disappointed in the DI Dan Hellier character. He was always doubting and questioning himself. Of course, he had good reason, so perhaps I’m misjudging him. He almost seemed incompetent at times. He seemed to get along well with his team, but was a little cranky with his superior. There is always something going on in this book – action galore. There is not a wasted word anywhere in this book. I really liked this novel and I certainly intend to read more of Mr. Steadman’s writing. Perhaps DI Dan’s confidence will rise as he gains experience in his present position.

I want to thank NetGalley and Bloodhound Books for forwarding to me a copy of this wonderful debut novel for me to read, enjoy and review.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bloodhound Books for a review copy of Death in the Woods, the first novel in the West Country series of police procedurals, featuring DI Dan Hellier.

When schoolboys discover a dead body in the woods in school grounds they recognise her immediately as 16 year old Carly Braithwaite, fellow pupil and potential singing star of the future. DI Dan Hellier, newly returned to his home town of Exeter from The Met is put in charge of the investigation.

I thoroughly enjoyed Death in the Woods, a fast paced, action packed procedural which held my attention from start to finish. There aren't many suspects in the case but trying to sort through their secrets and lies is a tough job, made worse by their sometimes inexplicable and almost always unexpected actions. It makes for a great read. I love the third person narrative voice from Dan's point of view as it keeps the novel simple and straightforward. There is almost no change of perspective so the reader knows what Dan knows, making it easy to get immersed in the novel and identify with him. It seems to be an old fashioned approach nowadays but it's my favourite format for a novel and it works really well in this case.

The novel widens from a murder investigation into something bigger as the novel progresses. It is this secondary plot that produces much of the action but it is the murder that produces most of the thinking and reasoning. This is another of my favourite plot devices where investigation into one thing leads to the uncovering of other crimes. This seems logical and realistic to me although the actual secondary plot may seem far fetched to some readers. Personally I just got caught up in the book and went where the author led me.

Dan Hellier is a good protagonist. Initially he's a bit cocky and not the most likeable of characters but as he makes mistakes and learns some self awareness he becomes much more human and likeable. Roll on book 2 as I'm looking forward to getting to know him better.

Death in the Woods is a great read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

This, the fist of many DI Dan Hellier books I hope! This was a good story line with interesting characters who came to life during the reading of this story. A very good read and will look for other books by this author.

Cleverly written, there are suspects galore and a scattering of clues along the ride/read. Very enjoyable and sometimes intense read. Enjoyed learning about the main Character (Dan). This book is well worth a read and will be looking forward to the next one

A very good thriller, full of action and fast paced. I really appreciated the plot and the subplots and the characters.
A book you cannot put down once you start it.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Bloodhound Books and Netgalley for this ARC

In the first book, Dan has recently been transferred from London and the Met. Not only is he reeling from those changes, but also the end of a long term relationship. Add to adjusting to a new boss, recently being promoted in rank, and having to co-run a team, with an inspector set to retire, and you have a character you know you will enjoy reading about. I love that Steadman makes Dan realistic. He wants to be liked, wants to do a good job to show his new boss he can, and feels unsettled. When the inevitable happens and he makes a huge error in judgement (which is extremely realistic and honest), the fallout propels not only Dan, but his team to solve what appears to be 2 unrelated cases. As they get further and further into the investigation, you'll find yourself rapidly turning pages and not wanting to leave the story! I ended up reading it all in one sitting! It's a twisted tale of greed, that will have you guessing, and re-guessing yourself and the clues, til the very end! Very enjoyable!

Death in the Woods is the first in the West Country Crime Series. We meet DI Dan Hillier as he tries to uncover who killed teenager Carly Braithwaite and dumped her body in the woods behind her school.
What starts out as a simple case of murder soon takes on many twists and turns and the investigations uncover so many different things with key witnesses and suspects seeming to be keeping secrets. Just as Dan thinks he knows who the killer is, evidence leads him down the path of drug smuggling and child prostitution. The question is do they have any relevance to his case and if so what is the connection to Carly? As he digs further into her personal life he finds that maybe she is not the wholesome girl that everyone thinks she is and questions if this could be the motive for her murder? In his quest for answers finds both himself and his DCI in danger and his actions are called into question by his superiors. Dan is determined to solve it and prove that they were right to trust him with this case.
What struck me about this book is that although Dan has made few mistakes in his personal life that resulted in his move back to Exeter from London he did not seem to have a dark past that is impacting on him or his decisions. He tries to learn from his mistakes in the hope that it will make a him a better detective. That being said in his eagerness to prove his worth and show that prior actions were just a blip he does allow himself to be lead into some dodgy investigative work (albeit by his soon to retire DCI). Despite this his team rally round and prove to be vital back up and support when he needs it the most. I also had a bit of a chuckle every time I read about the two detectives called Bill and Ben (affectionately known in the station as The Flower Pot Men).
This book will certainly have the reader hooked throughout as they follow all the leads and if they are like me will be changing their minds on who the culprit is just as much as DI Hillier and his team. Each of the characters in this book had a purpose, providing a vital link in the team and were not just thrown in to pad things out. I will certainly keep a look out for further works by Bernie Steadman as I look forward to seeing what is next for DI Hillier and co.

Death in the Woods by Bernie Steadman
West Country Crime Mysteries #1

Detective Inspector Dan Hellier is lead in his first murder investigation soon after he transfers to Exeter from the big city. Supervising him as his senior advisor is soon to retire, Ian Gould.

Who was murdered? Sixteen year old, Carly Braithwaite, who seemed to have a big successful future ahead of her.
Who found her? Schoolmates out to sneak a smoke in the woods
How many potential killers are there? More than a handful

As Dan begins the case he is full of himself and a bit brash but as time passes he realizes that there is much more to the job than he thought. He has let his temper rule him in the past and is trying to rein in his impetuousness as he leads his team in finding out what happened to Carly and who ended her life.

As an introduction to a new crime solving series this was filled with action, dealt well with the police procedural aspect of the story, introduced characters that will be seen throughout the series and made me care about more than one character while learning some rather horrific things as another criminal activity was uncovered. The story does deal with pedophilia, pornography, an Eastern European gang and a few things that may be triggers for some readers. It made me think again about how important it is for parents to be involved in their children’s lives and for them to maintain lines of communication with their children. I enjoyed the way those on Dan’s team began to work together as he found his place with them and I was thrilled that the bad guys were ultimately found and dealt with.

Did I enjoy the book? Yes
Will I read more in the series? Yes


Thank you to NetGalley and Bloodhound Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4 Stars

A talented young singer's body is found dumped in the woods. DI Heller is given the case and he is made the lead for the first time. He has a lot to prove as he left his last job with the MET under a cloud.
We have Latvians, paedophiles and a child porn ring. Heller needs to solve this case and prove to himself and others he can.
I enjoyed this book, it gathered steam from the first page . A good read.
I would like to thank the author Bernie Steadman, Bloodhound books and Net.galley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for giving an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed Death in the Woods. It's a fast paced, action packed police procedural which held my attention from start to finish.
Dan Hellier is a great protagonist. and I'm looking forward to book two and getting to know him and the rest of the team better.
Death in the Woods is a great read which I highly recommend..
I would like to thank Netgalley and Bloodhound Books for a review copy of Death in the Woods, the first novel in the West Country series of police procedurals.

What a brilliant start to the upcoming Detective Hellier series that is bound to be amazing. It had me hooked from the first chapter. Thrilling… I found it an easy to read, fast paced mystery/crime.

A real who dunnit which will keep you guessing throughout. Death in the Woods can easily be devoured within one sitting. Very impressed! I look forward to reading book two of this series soon. A well deserved four stars, I would highly recommend this story to you all. An unexpected outcome.

Can they solve who killed the girl? They have plenty of suspects but is the killer one of them?

Absolutely brilliant! Loved this book it was fast paced and full of twists. It kept me on the edge of my seat having to keep reading to see what would happen next. I liked the characters and the story line kept me engaged and interested right the way through. A really great read worthy of 5 stars.

Really enjoyed reading this book, the characters were believable and I felt the storyline was good I felt drawn in to the story quite a lot. Looking forward to reading the next book and will be watching out for more books by Bernie Steadman.

Thank you NetGalley and Bloodhound Books for this arc.

This was a fast paced and twisty read for me. Lots of action, lots going on. Initially, just the murder of a teenage girl seemed to be the main story line, but it soon morphed into something far more complex than just idiots behaving badly. Bernie Steadman writes strong female characters with weaker male characters taking on the "leading" roles within the police department....and the porno ring. At one point, I just had to shake my head.... Poor Ellis and Oliver (females) seemed like they were having to wrestle a hundred pound sack of rabid cats around trying to get the "boys" to behave. The DI Hellier character seemed like he had a good heart and wanted to do a good job but kept tripping over his ego and testosterone! I am looking forward to further books in this series!

Death in the Woods is Book 1 in the West-Country Crime Series and introduces DI Dan Hellier as he returns to his home town and the Exeter Police Department, having left The Met in London under less than stellar circumstances. The body of young, up-and-coming singer Carly Braithwaite is discovered, and DI Hellier finds himself leading his first major crime for his new police department, albeit he is to be overseen by soon-to-retire DCI Ian Gould.
The case is a complex one with several potential suspects and sub-plots and full of some very nasty characters. Kidnapping, human trafficking, outright lies and deceptions, this book covers it all. We are taken down many roads as the team works to bring the killer to justice.
We start to know the team that DI Hellier will be working with. One of his challenges is to form that team into a cohesive unit loyal to him. I enjoyed many things about this book, and one was that we see DI Hellier, his supervisors and his team as human. Dan struggles, no question, to find his leadership style. He makes mistakes, doesn’t always listen to the wisdom of his team mates, second guesses himself. He knows this and is working hard to find his path and keep his temper under control. He definitely worked his way into my heart.
I read this book far into the night to reach the end and loved every minute spent lost in this story. The West-Country Crime series has found a place on my “must-read” list. I have no doubt that DI Hellier and his team will continue to forge a tight, cohesive unit and I look forward to many more books in this series.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bloodhouse Books for providing an ARC of Death in The Woods in exchange for an honest review.

Excellent story. Wonderful characters and plot line. I really enjoyed it. I would recommend this book.

Detective Inspector Dan Hellier has transferred to Exeter .. it was transfer or be demoted or possibly lose his job altogether. He has a lot to prove ... and when a young girl is found murdered, this is his chance to lead an investigation. He's ot too happy about being supervised by another detective who is retiring soon, but he'll work with it in order to cement his position.

The 16-year-old girl found murdered had just won an esteemed award for her singing. When last seen, she was on her way to a recording studio ... but she never made it. So how did she wind up in the woods?

There are lots of suspects that Hellier has to sort through .... the girl's father, a seemingly violent man, a jealous sister, the boss of the recording studio - who has secrets, the young boy who loved her ... a music teacher who shouldn't have been involved with her. Toss into the mix a drug gang, and the mystery gets even deeper.

More bodies will fall if Hellier doesn't act fast and delve in the lies and secrets that no one wants to see uncovered.

This is a well-written action-packed crime fiction. The suspense is palpable and stays the course of the book until the very last page. I really enjoyed the character of Hellier. This first book in a series, mixes his professional with personal life. There are hints to his past with two women in his life, one his sister, another he loved. I look forward to hearing more about how that shaped the man he is today.

This is the first of a new series ... and it looks like a good one!

Many thanks to the author / Bloodhound Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of the introduction of a new crime fighter. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

Death In The Woods is full of fast paced action. I read it in a day which says a lot for it. Highly recommend it.

DI Dan Hellier has returned to his hometown of Exeter after a stint in the Met. He didn’t react well to the end of his relationship and a transfer seemed to be the best option al round. He’s been called to head his first murder enquiry - a teenage girl’s body has been discovered on land behind the local secondary school. It’s soon discovered that she was a pupil there. Dan and his team try to find a motive for her killing - the investigation uncovers a dysfunctional family, an inappropriate relationship between a pupil and a teacher, child abuse, pornography and jealousy. It also leads to a tragedy for the police team. A cracking read from start to finish - look forward to book two.

Thanks to Netgaey, Bloodhound Books and BA Steadman for the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.